Business clubs want to be heard a ConAss that needs some wiping off

It’s no doubt – we need some fixing on the infirmities of the Constitution. More than just redefining the political or system of governance, the weight of global competition necessitates a clear agenda in our fundamental law where everyone, not just the investor, becomes more adaptive to the recent vintage of economic change.                 

I have always believed that the change in our constitution should have been done yesterday. But the way it is done now...well, it's not well-done! If we are to change the Constitution we don't tell the people because there’s a new system that just works better than the old one. We need to tell and sell the imperatives – the tangible benefits and to where these benefits really go.

But the sales pitch suddenly sidetracked from the economics of it to the issue of who calls the shots in making the needed changes – congress. Hmmm…now I know that if con is the opposite of pro, then it’s [congress] the opposite of progress!

Gordon Alan Joseph, president of Cebu Business Club had it nailed to the point, “There are numerous challenges facing our deteriorating economy and our troubled political landscape. The pursuit of constitutional amendment at this inopportune time, by a methodology that is arguably flawed is not a priority in the face of these urgent concerns.”

But as to whether or not the everyday Johnny knows his ConAss well, I’m sure he prefers it wiping it off for now and figure out first where to find his next meal. The ConAss should answer the most fundamental question every impoverished Filipino has long asked: "What's that got to do with my belly?" And it looks like that this ConAss speaks nothing of it so far.

The ConAss is still the same banana planted in another backyard. It bears more resemblance to its previous versions. Presidents Estrada and Ramos saw the imperatives to change the Constitution, but failed convincingly and inevitably. The Filipino people couldn't make a sense of what they were really up to then. And now it looks like the Arroyo administration is about to inherit the unbroken string of failure – failing again to touch upon the substantial differences between her vision and that of her predecessors. 

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The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and its partners cordially invite you and your friends to a free stock market seminar on Monday, 22 June 2009. This PSE financial literacy campaign will be held at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Lahug, Cebu City from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.

This investor education campaign is in line with the PSE’s main thrust to revitalize the local capital market by inculcating the stock market in the minds of a greater number of Filipinos. Through such investor education activities, we hope to promote the stock market as an effective venue for mobilizing capital for business enterprises, which in turn will generate more employment, more livelihood opportunities and more economic growth.

The PSE has lined up experts who will share their expertise on various investment instruments as well as economists and market analysts to give their analyses and standpoint on the local, regional and global economies and provide their views on the country’s investment climate.

Slots are limited and interested participants are required to pre-register as the PSE will accommodate only registered participants on a first-come, first-served, basis. For pre-registration, call the PSE Market Education Department at (632) 688-7536 to 39 to pre-register and confirm your attendance. Or you may sign up by sending your name and company/organization via fax at (02) 6346695 or email to either [email protected] or [email protected].

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