Solon backs Speaker Belmonte’s charter change resolution by Jul 11, 2013 6:15am HKT A veteran lawmaker today welcomed the move of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. of filing House Resolution No. 1 seeking to amend restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution, as he vowed to support the House leader’s charter change initiative. Rep. Victor Ortega (1st District, La Union) said he has been fighting for charter change for so many years now, and in fact, had the privilege of sponsoring on plenary the charter change resolution filed by former Speaker Prospero Nograles during the 14th Congress in his capacity as then Chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments. “I have been fighting for charter change for the past 20 years. I agree with Speaker Belmonte that we need to amend the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution to attract foreign investments and capital that will create more employment and reduce the incidence of poverty in the country,” said Ortega. Ortega said while charter change should have been done during the early years of the Aquino administration, it still could be realized before 2016. “The best time for charter change should have been during the first year and a half of the Aquino administration. This is the second best time,” he said. He further said the charter change initiative should not be hampered by discussions or debates on the mode of doing it. “The ultimate goal is to improve the Constitution. The route which could be via constituent assembly or constitutional convention is just secondary,” he said. A 1971 Concon delegate himself, Ortega said he personally prefers a constitutional convention so people can decide who the delegates are that they want for the best platform for amendment. “I am for ConCon, but if it has to be through Con-Ass, then I’ll go with it. The route is only secondary,” he said. During his ConCon days, Ortega principally authored the measure to lower the voting age from 21 to 18, arguing that the 18-year old of today is as mature as the 21-year old of 1935. Ortega was a member of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments during the 15th Congress. He said he would probably remain as member of the panel in the 16th Congress. Admin-
Posted on: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 00:14:52 +0000