SEN. Richard Gordon yesterday said any move to amend the Constitution should be made only after 2010 elections.

Gordon, who chairs the Senate constitutional amendments committee, said there is a need to hold a "real debate" so the public would be presented with "unadulterated facts and solid arguments and counter-arguments."

He said he would bring public consultations on proposals to revise the Constitution to the regional and provincial levels.

He said people are "naturally fearful of what they don't understand."

"If we amend or revise the Constitution, it should come from the people. This is so that the people will have a real sense of owning the fundamental law of the land and not feel left out or that something was dictated upon them," he said.

He said the first thing to be discussed is the need for amendments and how these should come about.

Gordon is set to file a resolution calling for a constitutional convention that would be convened only after 2010.

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said Congress will have to study proposals to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution to encourage foreign investors to do business in the country.

Pimentel said the changes in the economic provisions may be tackled by Congress if it decides to convert itself into a constituent assembly to consider his proposal for the adoption of a federal system of government, which is embodied in Joint Senate Resolution 10.

He said Resolution 10 provides it is up to the individual federal states to decide on the lifting of restrictions on foreign investments such as the issue of whether to allow foreign individuals or companies to own lands.

Earlier, Trade Secretary Peter Favila said the amendments to the economic provisions of the Constitution are necessary to enhance the country's economic competitiveness.

He pointed to the provisions on the limitation on foreign ownership of enterprises and the ban on their ownership of lands.