Robin Padilla urges public to vote for candidates backing Cha-cha

Senator Robinhood "Robin" Padilla on Friday called on the public to vote for candidates that will push for the amendment of the 1987 Constitution by establishing a federal system of government.

Padilla made the statement a day after President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said that the administration has taken the first step toward federalism by distributing power to the local government units.

"I hope that in 2025 [midterm polls], Filipinos [will] intend to vote for candidates who may not be famous but believe that the form of government must change. We need only one House in Congress to cut costs, pass laws more quickly, and allow the entry of foreign investors," said Padilla, chairperson of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes. 

Padilla said he needs allies to push for government reforms such as federalism. 

"I have long pursued federalism, so the President's statement is a big inspiration for me. I am prepared to do what it takes to achieve this," he added. 

In February, Padilla filed Resolution of Both Houses 3 seeking to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution through a constituent assembly (Con-Ass). 

The proposed amendments include:

• The State may undertake exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources or may enter into co-production, joint venture, or production-sharing agreements with Filipino citizens or corporations at least 60% of whose capital is owned by such citizens, unless provided by law.

• hold alienable lands of the public domain except by lease for at most 25 years, renewable for not more than 25 years, and not to exceed 1,000 hectares, unless otherwise provided by law.

• Congress may, by law, solely for the purpose of foreign direct investment, allow aliens to acquire private lands not exceeding 1,000 square meters in area and foreign-owned corporations to acquire rural private lands not exceeding five hectares in area.

Padilla argued that the country's economic growth is largely anchored in Metro Manila and its neighboring regions such as Central Luzon (Region 3) and Calabarzon (Region 4A) which accounted for 57% of the country's gross domestic product compared to 43% in the remaining 14 regions from 2019 to 2021.

"Why do we need foreign investors? So we need not go abroad to work. Foreign investors will bring jobs that we need," Padilla said.

Padilla said federalism is also in accordance with the President's push for rightsizing the government.

"We have to be wise in making do with less. We must not spend too much taxpayers' money. Right now, we are doing that because we have both senators and congressmen," he said. —VBL, GMA Integrated News