Belmonte: Chacha to bring growth

CEBU, Philippines - House Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte, Jr. said that together with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, they will have a meeting with President Benigno Aquino III this week to discuss moves to amend the 1987 Constitution.

 “We need the support of the President. We will be having a meeting with him together with Senate President Enrile,” said Belmonte in a press conference after he delivered a speech during the 14th Supreme National Congress of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines yesterday.

 In his speech, he said that during his opening address of the Third Regular Session, he pointed out the importance of amending restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution.

 Belmonte said that our country needs more investments as we seek inclusive growth for everyone in the society and not just the growth of a minority.

 “To help bring about more inclusive growth, we will attune our policies to the needs and challenges of our time,” Belmonte said.

 Belmonte and Enrile had said that they are only interested in amending economic provisions in the Constitution, especially the limitation imposed on foreigners who want to own property in the country.

Aquino had made a statement earlier that the country achieved reforms under his administration without touching the Constitution. The President has opposed reforms in the Constitution even when he was still a senator.

 Under Article XVII, Sections 1 and 2 of the 1987 Constitution, the Constitution can be amended or revised in either of three ways: by the Philippine Congress; by a Constitutional Convention or directly by the people in what is called as people’s initiative.

 Former President Fidel Ramos, the second President to serve under the 1987 Constitution, was the first to promote charter change. 

 Among the provisions that Ramos wanted to see changed were term limits on national offices and a shift to a parliamentary system of government from the current presidential form of government.

 Even Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo included Cha-cha in her 2004 reelection campaign. — /JPM (FREEMAN)