Romualdez: Zubiri can get needed votes for Cha-cha resolution

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri can muster enough votes to approve Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 that aims to amend restrictive economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution, Speaker Martin Romualdez said yesterday.

“I am confident with the leadership of the Senate, especially with Senate President Zubiri, that he would be able to convince his colleagues at the Senate,” Romualdez said on the sidelines of the Philippine Cancer Center’s groundbreaking ceremony in Quezon City.

Romualdez noted they understand the “challenges but the Senate has always lived up to challenges.”

“Our senators are good, and I know that they know what is good for our people,” he added.

Romualdez made the statement after Zubiri admitted it is a challenge for the Senate to get the required number of votes to pass RBH7, which was approved by the House committee of the whole last Wednesday.

RBH7 contains the proposed amendments to the restrictive economic provisions in the Constitution, pertaining to Article 14 on the ownership of education institutions, Article 12 on the grand legislative franchise and ownership of public utilities and Article 16 on ownership of advertising firms.

The House is set to start plenary deliberations on the resolution on Monday with a goal of finishing the amendments before Congress goes on recess on March 23.

The larger chamber is also set to approve Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 on second reading this coming week and third and final reading before Holy Week.

RBH6 is authored by Zubiri and Senators Loren Legarda and Sonny Angara.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that over a million individuals have filed their applications to become registered voters as preparations are now ongoing for the 2025 midterm elections and possible plebiscite on Charter change.

Latest Comelec data showed that as of March 6, a total of 1,027,572 new voters have registered for next year’s elections.

Calabarzon has the highest number of applicants with 187,372, followed by the National Capital Region (156,990), Central Luzon (111,681), Central Visayas (79,552), Davao region (63,998) and Northern Mindanao (49,231). — Rhodina Villanueva