House adopts reso seeking Cha-cha on economic provisions of 1987 Constitution

The proposed measure to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution was adopted on third and final reading at the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Voting 251-21-2, the Resolution of Both Houses No. 2 was adopted by the chamber.

Key proponents of the measure claimed that opening the country to foreign direct investments would 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.

Some lawmakers have questioned the timing of the measure as the country is still being threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Makabayan Bloc said that the measure would not address the pandemic's adverse effects on the lives of Filipinos.

Other lawmakers also 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.

But Speaker Lord Allan Velasco insisted that the intention is purely to help the Philippines rise from this pandemic and to make the country fully-competitive with Asian neighbors.

"As global economies slowly bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines must be ready to ride the wave or risk being left behind by its Asian neighbors," Velasco said.

"We hope our colleagues in the Senate will see the wisdom in this measure, and allow Congress to present it to the public for ratification alongside the election of new leaders in the 2022 national elections," he added.

No votes

According to Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, the said Charter change initiative is defective in form and deficient in substance.

Lagman explained that as to form, the measure is not compliant with Article 17 of the 1987 Constitution which states that there are only three recognized modes of proposing amendments to the Constitution, including the Congress of the Philippines acting as a Constituent Assembly, a Constitutional Convention called by the Congress where the delegates are elected by the people, and People’s Initiative under certain terms and conditions.

"RBH No. 2 proposes amendments to the Constitution wherein the House of Representatives and the Senate will submit proposed amendments directly for ratification without passing any of the three modes," Lagman said.

"It is also deficient in substance because the proposed amendment reading 'unless otherwise provided by law' will allow the Congress to amend the Constitution with unlimited discretion by legislation on the details of liberalizing the economic restrictions in the Constitution," he added.

Lagman said the "liberalization" of the restrictive economic provisions in the Constitution by legislation would only "remove the special protection to Filipino capital and entrepreneurs and will derogate the preservation of the national economy for posterity."

Minority leader Joseph Stephen Paduano, for his part, said he is against the measure because educational institutions and mass ownership have been included.

"Allowing foreigners to run our schools and control the press poses national security risks. This move will impinge on the basic principle we adhere to," Paduano said.

"This representation believes that educational institutions must continue to promote nationalism and patriotism among our young children, which can only be attained if our schools are owned, managed and operated by Filipinos, 100%," he added.

Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas said this resolution is the "most dangerous and most shameless Cha-cha in the Philippine history."

"Ito ang natatanging Chacha na ginagawang prayoridad sa gitna ng pandemya at pagdurusa ng kababaihan mamamayan para paburan ang dayuhang kapital," Brosas said.

For Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate, the statement "otherwise provided by law" could be dangerous for the country's resources.

"Malinaw sa panukala na ito na nais tanggalin ang 60-40 na prosyentong hatian sa pagitan ng Pilipino at dayuhan sa mga negosyo sa ating bansa. Ibinunukas din ng RBH ang paggamit sa ating mga likas na yaman at lupa sa mas malalang pagdarambong ng mga dayuhan," he said.

"Pati ang ating kontrol at administrayon ng edukasyon sa Pilipinas ay hindi pinagligtas," Zarate said. —NB, GMA News