MAKATI CITY – Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile is pushing for the amendment of the Constitution to equalize the representations of all the regions of the country in the Senate.

This is one of the things he would like to accomplish before he exits from public life, he said.

 Enrile said it is high time that Negros, as a prime province, should have a representation in the Senate. It has one of the biggest populations in the country and no one can ignore Negros, he said. The entire Negros represents almost more than two million votes and that is something every politician must take note of, he added.

The island of Negros has a voting population almost equal to that of the island of Panay, Enrile said. But Negros does not have a senator and that is the problem with the present Constitution, he said.

 “I think it’s time that we revise the Constitution and equalize the
representation of all the regions of the country in the Senate,” he added.

Enrile said it is important that every region of the country is represented in the Senate, in the same manner that every district in the country is represented in Congress.

“Under the American system, each state is entitled to two
senators and I think we should adopt the same thing in this country
by reestablishing the senatorial districts where the country was divided into several districts and each district was represented by a senator in the Senate. We should go back to that and increase the number of senators from 24 to 48,” he said.

Enrile said he will help Negros to have a senator. That would enable an equal distribution of political power and resources, he said. In the House, Negros is well represented, “But you should have a senator to fight for you during budget time,” he added.

At least Senators Franklin Drilon and Mirriam Defensor-Santiago represent Region VI but there are many regions in the country that have no representation in the Senate, Enrile said.

He said Negros Occidental 3rd district Rep. Alfredo Benitez is fit to
become a senator someday. “Albee can develop himself into a national leader.”

Meanwhile, Enrile said that if the bill apportioning Bacolod City into two districts reaches the Senate, he will support it. “I always support the desire of the people to have more representations whenever they meet the requirements of the Constitution,” he said.

Enrile said he believes it will be advantageous for Bacolod to have two districts because it will have a stronger political voice in the House of Representatives.

 “It will also increase the political strength of your bargaining power in the Senate. If you have two representations, you develop  two possible leaders who can compete in the national scene,” he said. “That is the advantage of more representations,” he added.*CGS

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