Charter change still a priority, says Palace; Senate says it’s ‘not on its radar’

Malacañang on Sunday said that transitioning to a federal system of government remains a priority of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration even though the Senate has expressed no urgency about it.

“Shifting to a federal set-up of government remains a priority of the Duterte administration,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

“The disposition of the Senate with respect to this proposal should be understood along with its current and tight situation of addressing the 2019 budget with not too ample time to spare,” he added.

On Saturday, the senators vowed to give their "best efforts" to pass by mid-December the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019. 

Panelo said the administration is still expecting support from the Senate regarding the proposed federal form of government.

“We thus expect the Senate to support the President's desire for a federal form of government thereafter and see the wisdom of changing the system of government as part of society's transformation for the betterment of all the Filipinos,” Panelo said.

'Not on Senate's radar'

However, Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Sunday said that charter change is being set aside for now in the Senate due to lack of time.

“It’s not in the Senate’s radar. We do not have material time to even discuss it,” Sotto told GMA News Online in a text message.

He also said if only the House of Representatives had sent them the proposed annual budget earlier, the Senate could have have enough time to discuss it.

“Perhaps, if HOR transmitted the Budget earlier, we can talk about it,” Sotto said. —BM, GMA News