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Amending Constitution via con-con would cost P8–P10 billion —solon


The cost of amending the 1987 Constitution by constitutional convention (con-con) could reach as high as P8 to P10 billion, but the amount would be "worth it," lawmaker said Wednesday.

Camarines Sur Representative Luis Raymund Villafuerte made the pronouncement a day before the House starts the deliberations on bills and resolutions seeking Charter change (Chacha).

“Con-con expenses will reach P8 to P10 billion pero para sa akin, worth it kasi sa investment na billions of dollars naman ang papasok [but for me, it's worth it because of the billions of dollars in investment that will come in],” Villafuerte said in a Super Radyo sa DZBB interview.

“There are those who filed measures to change the Constitution via con-ass, pero ayaw ng Senado ‘yan [but the Senate doesn't want that]. Kaysa pag-awayan pa, con-con na lang [Instead of fighting about it, let's have a con-con instead],” Villafuerte added.

The Constitution may be amended or revised through either a constitutional assembly (con-ass) of incumbent lawmakers through a three-fourths vote; or through a constitutional convention (con-con) made up of delegates elected by the people to propose revisions to the Charter.

Villafuerte said that the measure he filed provides for a con-con, and prohibits incumbent members of Congress and their relatives to run for delegate.

“Kapag hindi ito na-discuss before the [2025] midterms, hindi na ito matutuloy,” he added.

(If this is not discussed before the 2025 midterms, it will not push through.)

Villafuerte said that for one, the charter should be changed so that foreigners could own land and other business, including agricultural lands.

“I am focused on economic provisions. We are too restrictive. A lot of them [foreigners] want to invest in agriculture, public utility, but the Constitution prohibits that,” Villafuerte said.

“Hindi naman nadadala ang lupa at ari-arian. Ang dami ngang foreigner na may ari ng lupa, naka dummy lang sa asawang Pilipina. I-allow na lang ‘yan kasi maraming kapitalista ang gusto mag-invest sa agriculture. I-allow na lang natin ‘yan dahil ang magbe-benefit naman niyan, Pilipino,” Villafuerte added.

(You can't carry away land and property. There are actually a lot of foreigners who own land, with their Filipino spouses as dummy owners. Let's just allow is because there are a lot of capitalists who want to invest in agriculture. Let's allow it because we will benefit from it.) — BM, GMA Integrated News

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