Estrada opposes proposed term extension

Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday said he is not keen on the idea of amending the term limits provision of the Constitution for president and vice president.,“At this juncture, I oppose any and all moves to amend the term limits provision of the Constitution,” Estrada said in a statement.,The returning senator is referring to House Resolution 1, filed by Pampanga Representative Aurelio Gonzales Jr., which seeks to reduce the president and vice president’s terms to five years but allow one reelection.,Estrada admitted that he has yet to read the proposed measure, however, he expressed his belief that it is “premature” to pass the said bill.,“While I have to read Cong. Gonzales’ proposed measure, I am sure that many will agree with me that not only is it premature, it is likely to be misconstrued as self-serving,” he said.,Gonzales filed the resolution on 30 June, the same day President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte took office.,The measure also lifts the constitutional limits on the term of the House of Representatives and local elective officials.,Should the bill become a law, government officials such as congressmen, governors, local chief executives who are already in their last term, will not be able to seek reelection.,The measure will also change the way the electorates vote its leaders as the bill limits them to choose a president and vice president from the same party.,Earlier, Gonzales clarified that the President and Vice President will not benefit from the proposed measure since the new Chief Executive will be at the middle of his term when the law takes effect.,Under the 1987 Constitution, a president can only serve for a single term of six years and cannot seek reelection., ,Labor code overhaul,Meanwhile, Estrada expressed his intent to revisit the Labor Code of the Philippines to ensure adequate benefits, support, and protection of the country’s workforce.,He also floated that if necessary, he is willing to overhaul the labor code.,“We have to revisit and I think there is a need to overhaul the Labor Code. It was enacted in 1974 and there are a lot of provisions which are already obsolete,” he said.,“We need to make sure that the primary laws for our workforce are timely and suitable to the current situation of the workers,” he added.,Estrada, the incoming chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, underscored the possibility of filing for a Legislated Wage Increase given the continuously rising cost of fuel, utilities, transportation expenses, and basic commodities.,However, he said that this should be appropriately studied and deliberated to “ensure a mutually beneficial law for laborers and capitalists.”,“I will see to it that the Regional Wage Board is looking after the welfare of our workers by ensuring decent and adequate salaries,” he said.,“If in the course of our committee hearings they will say that the salaries they are giving to the workers are not enough, I might be forced to legislate a wage hike but of course, we have to strike a balance between the urgent needs of the labor sector and burdens of key economic players,” he added.