Alvarez says limiting Cha-cha to economic provisions would benefit only investors

Limiting Charter change to only the economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution would benefit only investors and not the public at large, a pro-federalism solon said Thursday at the Senate constitutional amendments and revision of codes public hearing held in Baguio City.

"Asan po ang kapakanan ng taumbayan dito? hindi ko makita, Mr. Chairman," said Davao del Norte 2nd District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez, who was among the resource persons invited by the panel chaired by Senator Robin Padilla.

He was responding to former Finance secretary Margarito "Gary" Teves, who backed the proposals to limit the amendments to the economic provisions.

"Sana po mag-focus po muna tayo sa restrictive economic provisions," said Teves, who served as former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Finance chief.

He suggested that the House of Representatives and the Senate reach a
"consensus" in terms of setting the objectives of the moves to amend the 1987 Constitution.

"Nagkakatugma naman tayo na kailangan nating i-amyenda ang ating Constitution. Siguro isang tanong is, sa panahong ito, pwede ba isang portion lang ng ating saligang batas ang pag-usapan natin?" he said.

Alvarez, who like Padilla is pushing for a federal form of government, said that limiting the changes to the economic provisions "obviously" means only investors' interests are being looked after.

"Sana 'yung kapakanan ng taumbayan ang tingnan dito, hindi lang ang kapakanan ng mga mamumuhunan. Kasi kung sabihin natin ilimita lang natin sa economic provisions ng ating saligang batas, obviously ang tinitingnan lang natin dito ay kapakanan ng namumuhunan," he said.

The Senate constitutional amendments and revision of codes has conducted two public hearings on the measures filed by Padilla that seek to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution through a constituent assembly (con-ass).

The first one was held in Davao City while the second one was conducted in Baguio City.

Padilla has been conducting these hearings despite President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s statement that Charter change is not a priority of the administration.

In the House of Representatives, the Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 6 calling for a constitutional convention (con-con) to amend the 1987 Constitution was approved on third and final reading.

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) earlier pointed out that Charter change via con-ass would be significantly less costly than via con-con. At Thursday's hearing, Teves said that the funds needed for a con-con could be used to address inflation by strengthening the agriculture sector.

"'Yung mga pera na gagastusin sa con-con baka naman, at this time, dahil malaki ang suliranin natin sa ating ekonomiya, kagaya ng ating inflation at iba pa, baka yung perang 'yan pwedeng ilagay sa pagdagdag ng pag improve ng production at tsaka productive capacity ng ating agrikultura para ma-adjust natin ang inflation problem muna," he said. — BM, GMA Integrated News