Iloilo lawmaker cites compelling reasons for Cha-cha

MANILA, Philippines - Technological advances, particularly in the way corporations and other investors do business around the globe, are a compelling argument for amending the 1987 Constitution, a senior administration lawmaker said yesterday.

Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas also expressed optimism that President Aquino would eventually support Charter change as long as there is a commitment from the 16th Congress that only the economic provisions would be revised.

“Charter reforms are meant to keep our basic law attuned to the changing world,” he said.

The lawmaker said a national debate, especially within the halls of Congress, could afford the people a venue to shape a better future for the country.

“Things are changing so fast because of technology. Even the way we transact business nowadays is changing rapidly, and I think that there is nothing wrong if we discuss this issue based on merits and without any partisan considerations,” Treñas said.

“Some provisions in our Constitution are now outdated and cannot grasp global opportunities for our country, which is why we are being left behind, even by other younger emerging economies,” he added.

He said global businesses make multi-million or billion-dollar decisions based on the long-term investment climate of a country. Huge funds can also be moved from one country to another because of advances in the way companies transact business, the lawmaker added.

“Imagine how our Constitution will look 10, 20 years from now?” Treñas said, noting that efforts to revise the Charter started during the Ramos administration.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez earlier separately filed measures seeking to amend the Constitution.

Belmonte sought the legislative route with a nationwide plebiscite touching only the economic provisions, while Rodriguez wants a constitutional convention to tackle also changing the form of government to a unicameral parliamentary system.

Treñas said even if Aquino remains reluctant on Charter change, Congress could still work on constitutional amendments under the Constitution.

“I can understand the sentiment of the President. However, under our fundamental law, it is Congress that is vested with the power to craft national policies. Once he sees that Congress is only interested in revising serious flaws in the Constitution’s economic provisions and nothing else, I think that the support of the President would soon follow,” he said.

The lawmaker dismissed fears that any move to revise the Constitution could open the floodgates to unnecessary revisions that may only serve the interests of political powers.

“We can never prosper as a nation if we are not willing to take risks and trust ourselves. The secret is vigilance,” he said.