Despite the insurmountable risk in the plan to push Charter change, the House leadership is still hoping that the move could see the light of day, preparing a supplemental budget that would fund a plebiscite in the event that Cha-cha is approved by President Aquino.
House Majority Leader  Neptali Gonzales II said the House leadership will prioritize the passage of a supplemental budget since Cha-cha is not included in the proposed P2.006-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
Gonzales explained that the constitutional amendments could be included in the ballots for next year’s elections and the question during the plebiscite would be answerable by yes or no.
“It’s not appropriate if there’s already a budget. Should there be a decision and because of a stroke of a miracle the President agrees, then we will have a supplemental budget,” Gonzales yesterday told a radio interview.
“It is expected that there’s no budget for Cha-cha in 2013. Right now, there’s nothing definite, we’re not sure if there will be a plebiscite. The President has given his economic managers two weeks to prepare their recommendation,” he added.
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. reiterated that Cha-cha is still alive and that the outcome of a study by the economic and legal clusters of the Cabinet could change the position of the President on amending the Constitution.
The House leader said he is holding on to their agreement with President Aquino and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for the Cabinet members to take a second look at their proposal.
“I am not going to follow it up to the Cabinet. I’ll just wait for the feedback from the President himself,” Belmonte told reporters despite Aquino’s reiteration of his position against Cha-cha.
“The door is open (to amend the Constitution),” Belmonte added.
Earlier, Gonzales expressed belief that Cha-cha can be undertaken by just adding the words “unless otherwise provided by law” to certain constitutional provisions.
Last Monday, Belmonte and Enrile failed to convince Aquino to support their proposal to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution.
Belmonte maintained that Cha-cha will further boost the country’s economy as many investors will come in to do business here.
Among the provisions that are being eyed are the prohibition on foreign direct investments, land ownership and the ownership of public utilities like media and the exploitation of  natural resources.