In an interview Tuesday afternoon, MinBC chairman Vicente Lao said the passage of the law has been ill-timed and should be done after the 2010 presidential elections.

"It is not very well-timed. It will be an exercise in futility," Lao said, adding that at the end of the day, the proposals to amend the Constitution will have to pass the plebiscite.

"I doubt if it can pass the plebiscite," Lao added.

On the other hand, the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) conducted a survey among its members to gather the sentiment on the issue of Con-Ass.

"Our survey among our members show that the timing is not right, and it should have been done after the 2010 polls," Simeon Marfori, DCCCII president, said.

However, both clarified that they are not against Charter change.

Clamor for the scrapping of House Bill 1109 have resonated throughout the country, especially among the academe, civil society, and religious groups. The business sector, led by the Makati Business Club and the Management Association of the Philippine, have also joined the calls.

Cause and effect

Moreover, the local chambers also see no positive effect on the proposed convening of Congress as a Constituent Assembly on the economy.

"There will be none, nothing positive," Marfori said.

In Davao City, all three congressmen, House Speaker Prospero Nograles (1st District), Vincent Garcia (2nd District), and Isidro Ungab (3rd District), have voted in favor of HB 1109.

"Your basis of support is not one act of the congressman," Marfori said when asked if the business sector will still support the candidacy of these candidates come 2010. "You look at the track record of the congressman, whether he has delivered or not."

Legal ruling

Lao, on the other hand, believes that what the House of Representatives want to happen is for the Supreme Court to decide on the correct interpretation of the 1987 Constitutional provision on the phrase "2/3 vote of Congress."

"They (House of Representatives) want to have a legal ruling on whether the Senate is included in the necessary number," Lao said.