Charter amendment might include some economic provisions

Moves to amend the 1987 Constitution to give way for a shift to federalism might also include changes in some economic provisions of the Charter, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez announced Wednesday.

Dominguez made the announcement at the Philippine economic forum in Japan, saying that Japanese businessmen look forward to the lifting of restrictions in the Charter, allowing foreign businesses to be more involved in the Philippine economy, a report on Unang Balita said Thursday.

But, Dominguez said that Constitutional provisions on land ownership by foreigners would not be touched, the report added. 

It is high time that foreign businesses would consider the Philippines as an investment destination, Dominguez said.

Also, Dominguez said that the Duterte administration wants to push further the present economic growth momentum to address poverty in the country. 

He said that by 2017 the government will open up areas of investment that have been administratively limited, the report said. — LBG, GMA News