The House Committee on Constitutional Amendments held its sixth public consultation on proposals to reform the 1987 Constitution at the City Convention Center in San Jose Del Monte City in Bulacan.
More than 700 participants to the public consultation from the academe, research groups, student groups, business groups, legal groups, civil society organizations, people’s organizations and NGOs, as well as from the national government and local government of San Jose del Monte City, the Sanguniang Panglunsod and Barangay, and the media attended the event.
Lone District of San Jose Del Monte City Representative Florida Robes, Chairperson of the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, described the consultation as “enriching (because) the invited guests … can give proper insights on the needed constitutional reform.”
Present during the consultation were Committee on Constitutional Amendments Vice Chairperson Rep. Divina Grace Yu, Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairperson and economist Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, Assistant Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez, Nueva Ecija Rep. Ria Vergara, Bulacan Rep. Danny Domingo, Laguna Rep. Loreto Amante, 4Ps Party-list Rep. JC Abalos, and Siquijor Rep. Zaldy Villa.
Also present were Bulacan Vice Governor Alex Castro, U.P. political scientist Prof. Clarita Carlos, Prof. Eric Castillo, as well as Cabanatuan City Mayor Mycah Elizabeth Vergara, local executives from the DILG, lawyers from the San Jose City Prosecutors Office and representatives of the Bulacan State University, among others.
Yu gave an overview on six measures referred to the Committee on Constitutional Amendments in the matter of calling for a Constitutional Convention to propose amendments to the Constitution.
“Constitutional restrictions attract fewer businesses.”
Quimbo explained how constitutional restrictions attract fewer businesses and discussed the benefits of a more open economy, such as higher wages; more jobs; additional foreign direct investments, improved performance of the services sector, among others.
Former Congressman and now San Jose Del Monte City Mayor Arthur Robes, elated that his city was chosen as one of the venues for the public consultation on constitutional reform, welcomed the House contingent.
“Maaaring isa tayo sa pinakamalaki na pampublikong konsultasyon upang talakayin ang Saligang Batas.”
“Sa aking nakikita ay maaaring isa tayo sa pinakamalaki na pampublikong konsultasyon upang talakayin ang Saligang Batas. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na tayo ang naging punong abala sa ganitong kahalagang okasyon,” Robes said.
The mayor urged participants to show their love for the country under the leadership of President Bongbong Marcos, and to give inputs that will benefit future generations.
Rep. Robes agreed, saying “Ang Saligang Batas ay ang pinakamataas ng batas ng bansa at ito’y makakaapekto ng bawa’t isa sa atin at ng ating mga anak at kanilang mga anak. Mahalaga na tayo ay maging mapagmatyag at makilahok sa talakayan hanggang sa dulo sa pagpapa-apruba sa panukala.”
