Although the administration congressmen didn’t attempt to convene Congress into a constituent assembly as anticipated by critics, House Speaker Prospero Nograles continued to strongly bat for Charter change.

In a speech delivered at the opening of the third regular session of the 14th Congress, Nograles said he was hoping that this time around, Charter change (Cha-cha) will prevail.

“I pray that, once and for all, under our watch – in a climate of rational debate and non-partisan dialogue, we can establish clearly the valid mode to implement changes or revisions that our people want in our Constitution,” the Speaker said.

In his own speech, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile vowed to resist any effort of the House to amend the Constitution via a constitutional assembly without Senate participation even as he assured that Senate is strongly united to ensure that elections will be held next year.

In his opening remarks, Enrile assured the people that no Charter change will take place without the participation of the Senate.

“As we get back to the task of lawmaking starting today, let me assure our people that no Charter change will take place without the participation of the Senate. I have vowed to protect the independence and integrity of the Senate, and I will do so within the powers granted to me under the Constitution and our Rules,” Enrile said.

Nograles exhorted members of the chamber to dare push for the “best and bravest” in pursuit of reforms in the country.

“Ultimately, it is our best and bravest ideas on how to promote the welfare of our people that must govern the choices we make as leaders,” he said.

He said the House will stick to a list of legislative priorities that will have to be acted upon by the plenary in the last leg of the 14th Congress and this includes House Bill 737 which seeks to amend economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

He later told reporters that the next step for House Resolution 1109 will be the main topic of a crucial all-party caucus that will be called within the week. HR 1109 proposes to convene Congress into a constituent assembly to amend the Charter.

Nograles chided critics of President Arroyo and her congressional allies for wrongly predicting that provisions of HR 1109 will be implemented in time for the SONA when members of Congress meet in a joint session.

“We are not pulling a fast one on this nation. Under our watch we have been very transparent,” the House leader told reporters.

He stressed that amending the Constitution remains part of the legislative agenda of the House as he disputed the impression that 70 percent of Filipinos reject Charter amendments.

“At least 70 percent of people do not want Charter change if it will result in term extension. I think you ask our congressmen if they want Charter change with term extension, they will never sign such resolution,” Nograles said.

Nograles, author of a House resolution seeking to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution, believed that in the end, the will of the people “shall prevail as to what changes, as well as how and when the changes shall be made.”

He said there is much to be done despite the enactment of several landmark legislations aimed at sustaining the country’s economic growth and the approval on final reading of a number of bills that seek to level the business playing field to attract more direct investments.

“I continue to emphasize the necessity of liberalizing the economic provisions of our Constitution, particularly those on foreign ownership of land. We need to put our country back on the map of foreign investors,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nograles touted the reforms he instituted in the House and thanked his colleagues for their “hard work that enabled the 14th Congress to achieve so much.”

“You (House members) helped set the bar of outstanding performance for future Congresses to look up to, and aspire to equal. The economic, social and political reform laws we crafted together will serve as framework of the country’s growth architecture in the next five to 10 years,” he said.

Nograles cited the reforms that were put in place in the management of legislative processes, and the physical changes in the Batasan complex in Quezon City.

“Apart from managerial reforms that resulted in more efficient legislative support services, we undertook the first ever massive rehabilitation of facilities and buildings of the House after more than 31 years of neglect and despair. The results are palpable for everyone to see and experience,” he said.

Among the economic measures enacted under the 14th Congress are the National Credit Information System Act, the Civil Aviation Authority Act of 2008, the Renewable Energy Resources Act, the Act Strengthening the Financial Capability of the PDIC (Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp.) and Increasing the Maximum Deposit Insurance Coverage from P250,000 to P500,000, the National Tourism Act, and the Personal Equity and Retirement Act.

The 14th Congress also enacted vital laws aimed at cushioning the impact of the global financial crisis on ordinary Filipinos.