Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — As the 16th Congress comes to a close, House Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte, Jr. revealed his biggest regret: the failure to push through with an economic charter change.
“Talaga if I was asked one big thing I wished I have done, pati si majoirty leader, that was it. But for one reason or another hindi natuloy,” Belmonte said in a press conference on Tuesday.
[Truthfully, if I was asked one big thing I wished I have done, as well as majority leader, that was it. But for one reason or another, it did not push through.]
Belmonte said despite this, the 15th and 16th Congresses were able to pass economic bills.
The speaker himself championed the sin tax law and the reproductive health law which were stalled in Congress for decades before they were signed into law under his leadership.
With federalism on top of president-elect Duterte’s agenda, Belmonte is hoping Duterte will also consider changing the economic provisions of the Constitution.
“Kung ‘yun lang gagawin hindi kailangan ng concon (constitutional convention). Pero federalism, changing form of government, that is a big challenge. Kailangan doon talaga ng con con,” Belmonte said.
[Translation: If that would be the only thing to do, we don’t need concon (constitutional convention). But with federalism, changing form of government, that is a big challenge. We really need concon for that.]
Belmonte also commended the National Board of Canvassers for completing the tally of votes and proclaiming the president and vice president in record time.
Watch: Congress proclaims Duterte, Robredo
The board is co-chaired by House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II and Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
Gonzales said lawmakers have learned well from the vote count during the 2010 general elections.
“Yung mabilis magawa ang proseso is better, alam na naman ng tao ang panalo. We were just doing our job, the fact na ginawa in 3 days kahit ako ay nagulat,” Gonzales said.
[It’s better to do the process quickly, anyway the people already know who won. We were just doing our job, the fact that we finished it in three days, I was also surprised.]
Also read: Comelec: Random manual audit halfway done, shows accurate poll results
Belmonte is planning to lead the House minority in the 17th Congress.
Members of the administration’s Liberal Party in the House have parted ways — with some joining the majority led by Duterte’s PDP-Laban, and some joining Belmonte in the minority.
CNN Philippines’ Pia Bonalos contributed to this report.
