House approves resolution seeking economic Cha-cha

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading the measure which seeks to amend what its authors called "restrictive" economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution.

The Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 2 was passed through a voice vote.

Key proponents of the measure said it could pave the way for the Philippines opening up to increased foreign direct investments, which could later help it recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

RBH No. 2 is seeking to insert the phrase "unless otherwise provided by law" to the constitutional provisions on national economy and patrimony; education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports; and on general provisions to give Congress flexibility to enact laws that would free up the economy to foreign investors.

Ako Bicol party-list Representative Alfred Garbin, one of the proponents of the RBH 2, has said the Philippines should not be afraid to compete with foreign firms.

He said it is only wise for Congress to amend the present Constitution by adding the phrase "unless otherwise provided by law," to give the government enough flexibility to consider different circumstances prevailing at different stages of the road to economic development.

Garbin also said the details with regards to opening the economy "would still be subject to constitutional procedure for legislation, which requires consultations, extensive deliberations and voting and the subsequent action of Congress."

Opposition

During his interpellation, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman questioned the fate of the House resolution if it does not get the support of the Senate.

Garbin acknowledged that without the Senate's backing, the resolution would be dead.

Some lawmakers also questioned the timing of the measure as the country is in the midst of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The Makabayan bloc insisted that the resolution would not address the pandemic's adverse effects on the lives of Filipinos.

Others lawmakers feared that this would only pave the way for the introduction of political amendments in the present Constitution such as  term extension for some elected officials or lifting their term limits.

Two lawmakers, Representatives Kit Belmonte and Lorenz Defensor, individually proposed amendments on the measure. Only one of Defensor's proposed amendment was accepted (Article XII, Section 10):

"The Congress, shall, upon recommendation of the economic and planning agency, and when the national interest dictates, reserve certain areas of investment to citizens of the Philippines or, unless otherwise provided by law, to corporations or associations at least 60 per centum of whose capital is owned by such citizens."

Three-fourths votes

A similar House resolution pushing for economic Cha-cha made it to plenary debates in the 16th Congress, but was not put to a vote on third and final reading.

At least three-fourths votes are needed for the resolution to hurdle the final reading at the lower chamber, which then Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. acknowledged was difficult to obtain.

Critics of the move then had said that any form of Cha-cha, whether economic or political, is dangerous because it will open the floodgates for any or wholesale amendments to the Constitution.—NB/LDF, GMA News