Barbers: Laws easing restrictions are proof of need for Cha-cha

Laws easing restrictions provided under the 1987 Constitutions already serve as admission that the present charter is flawed and needs a change, Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers said Wednesday.

Barbers, a member of Nacionalista Party (NP), issued the statement in light of Speaker Martin Romualdez's push to start working on Charter change (Cha-cha) next year. 

“Passing laws in the hope of curing the flaws of the Charter is an admission of the need to amend it. Even if Congress pass thousands of economic laws in contravention of the Constitution, nothing will change. They will be questioned before the Supreme Court," Barbers said in a statement.

Barbers did not cite specific laws, but in March 2022 then-President Rodrigo Duterte signed amendments to the Public Service Act, which allows 100% foreign ownership of public services such as telecommunications and railways, among others.

Under the 1987 Constitution, foreigners may only own up to 40% of public utilities.

"It is a waste of valuable resources. It is an admission that the Charter has failed us economically, politically and socially. What are we waiting for, to be at the bottom of the ladder?" Barbers said.

He added that a revised constitution "will be a better tool for our President, now and in the future, to sell the country to investors and navigate the global business network for our people."

"Instead of going out to work, they will be staying to man and run businesses both foreign ang local that may choose the country if the right climate prevails," Barbers said.

Senator Cynthia Villar, an NP stalwart, earlier said she is not in favor of Charter Change as it is unpopular with the public.

But for Barbers, the country ranking eighth out of 10 countries in Southeast Asia in terms of foreign direct investments should already serve as a wake up call to amend the Charter. —Llanesca T. Panti/KBK, GMA Integrated News