FEF’s Chikiamco pushes for Constitutional change  to curb corruption

Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) president Calixto Chikiamco on Friday called for amending the Constitution, arguing that political and economic overhaul will be able to address the corruption issues hounding the Philippines.

Chikiamco proposes nationwide elections for a Constitutional Convention in 2028, timed with the presidential race. By then the 1987 Constitution will be 41 years old.

“It’s time to change the Constitution because graft and corruption is not unique to the Philippines. It’s just that the magnitude has gone up, but if you want to stop it, we have to change our political and economic system,” he told reporters in Makati City.

“Merely putting people to jail will not change the incentive of our politicians to keep on stealing money. My recommendation is through a Constitutional Convention by 2028 so that there will be time, maybe in one to two years, they can come out with a new Constitution. It will be elected by the people. It has to be elected,” he said.

His remarks come as both chambers of Congress look into alleged irregularities in public works spending, after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in August disclosed that 20% of the total P545-billion budget for flood control projects went to only 15 contractors, which he described as a “disturbing assessment.”

The administration has also established the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), in response to public calls for greater transparency and accountability in infrastructure spending. It is tasked to conduct an in-depth investigation into the alleged irregularities and misuse of funds in flood control, and other infrastructure projects.

Chikiamco’s proposal includes establishing what he described as a “strong” party system funded by the state, saying this would reduce the incentive for individual politicians to steal public funds to finance their campaigns.

He is pushing for a two-party system under a presidential setup or a multi-party system should the country shift to a parliamentary model, along with strict laws against party switching or turncoatism.

“You say they’re afraid that it will be controlled by the dynasties, but we can put in some restrictions about that, but we have to trust the people who will elect delegates to the Constitution who will be able to make the systemic change that we need,” Chikiamco said.

He also wants to remove “Filipino first and Filipino only” provisions, allowing foreign investors to come in and set up shop in the Philippines.

“There’s nothing wrong with the influx of foreign investors because that would be employing people, and especially if they export, right? That’s the formula of our other neighbors like Taiwan, Japan, China — they’re open to foreign investors,” he said.

“We have to be globally competitive. That means we need to reduce the price of food so that labor costs won’t be so high,” he added.

Chikiamco likewise called for structural reforms, particularly in agriculture where he is pushing for farm consolidation, agribusiness, and the liberalization of the imports of agricultural products. — BAP, GMA Integrated News