Speaker Prospero Nograles said Saturday that he has given the House committee on constitutional amendments to tackle proposals for Charter change (Cha-cha).

"We have a Committee on Constitutional Amendments not only in the House but also the Senate precisely to handle proposals pertaining to proposed amendments on the constitution. As long as it does not interfere with our normal legislative work, [La Union Rep. Victor Francisco] Ortega's committee can go ahead in considering proposals on Charter change," Nograles said in a statement.

Nograles's statement came amid news that renewed moves by the administration for Charter change has been gaining support in the lower chamber.

The speaker's House Resolution 737, which seeks to amend economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, already has 163 signatures.

Another resolution being circulated by President Arroyo's political party, Kampi, has reportedly gained the support of at least 156 congressmen.

Kampi's resolution proposes to convene Congress into a Constituent Assembly and tackle amendments to the constitution.

At a press conference in Quezon City, Nograles said that compared to Kampi's resolution, his was "more detailed" as it mentions specific provisions that should be amended.

“[Kampi’s resolution] is a generic resolution. It only called for a joint session of the Senate and House to propose constitutional amendments. There were no specific amendments mentioned, they just copied provisions of the Constitution, although there's nothing illegal about that," Nograles said during the weekly "Kapihan sa Sulu" press conference.

Nograles said his resolution aims to relax strict economic provisions in the constitution that has been preventing foreign investors from entering the country.

No term extension

The speaker, meanwhile, assured that Ortega's committee has not received any deceptive Cha-cha proposal that would extend Mrs. Arroyo's term.

He assured critics of the renewed Cha-cha efforts that elections will push through in 2010.

"There will be an election in 2010. There is no proposal to extend the term of anyone," Nograles said, adding that even if Cha-cha happens before 2010, there is a law that prohibits its framers from benefiting the amendments.

He also assured the public that his Cha-cha resolution is "purely focused on the restrictive economic provisions..."

Cha-cha talks started in Senate

In an effort to cool down criticisms against the lower chamber, Nograles reminded the public that Cha-cha talks actually started from the Senate.

"It is important to note that the federalism initiative came from the Senate through Senator Aquilino Pimentel, a respected Mindanaoan and a prominent member of the political opposition," he said. "We may just pick from where Sen. Pimentel started."

He said talks about Cha-cha were revived by Pimentel's Resolution 10, which proposes to convene Congress into a Constituent Assembly to tackle amendments to the constitution that would pave the way for a federal system.

Pimentel had been warned by several sectors that his resolution might be used by the administration to revive Cha-cha talks.

At least 16 senators signed Pimentel's resolution. The number, however, was reduced to 15 after Sen. Rodolfo Biazon withdrew his support.

The senators who signed Resolution 10 were Manny Villar, Francis Pangilinan, Edgardo Angara, Pia Cayetano, Juan Ponce Enrile, Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., Juan Miguel Zubiri, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda and Noynoy Aquino.