PhilConsa backs economic Cha-cha

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Constitution Association (PhilConsa) is supporting proposals in the House of Representatives to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution to ensure stable growth for the country.

PhilConsa chairman Manuel Lazaro made the position known in his letter to the House committee on constitutional amendments, chaired by Davao City Rep. Mylene Garcia-Albano, which continued its public hearings on Charter change proposals yesterday.

Lazaro said the PhilConsa board of governors and its officers held a special meeting to discuss House Resolution No. 1 authored by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., which seeks to ease restrictions in the economic provisions of the Constitution to attract investments and create jobs.

“PhilConsa wholeheartedly resolved to support, endorse and encourage the pragmatic manner to propose amendments to soften or liberalize the limiting provisions of the Constitution to enable the government to undertake programs, activities and measures to enhance economic development and growth and attract foreign investments, essential to a stable and progressive economy,” the group said.

The group said the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution on foreign ownership of various businesses “have prevented, delayed and obstructed the development and growth of economic and financial potentials of our country, and the ability to create more jobs.”

However, Lazaro said they prefer that Congress convene itself into a constituent assembly to write the proposed amendments to avoid the process being questioned before the Supreme Court.

Under the resolution, the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” will be included in various sections in Articles XII, XIV, and XVI, which means the restrictions on foreign ownership on land and other industries will remain until Congress enacts laws lifting them and is approved in nationwide plebiscites.

The resolution proposes that the House and the Senate, voting separately, would approve the simple amendment and this would be subjected to a nationwide referendum.

Meanwhile, Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza called on his fellow lawmakers to sign a public pledge that they will not touch the political provisions in the process of deliberating on the economic provisions of the Constitution.

“We in the House independent minority bloc support the initiative for Charter change on economic provisions exclusively; we must swear before the nation that we will not touch the political provisions like term limits and extensions,” Atienza said.

He said joblessness is a major economic problem the country is facing today. Opening the economy will generate new industries and opportunities that will address the problem, he added.

“We are proposing a public pledge to assure the people who are doubting the intentions of some members that changes will affect only the economic provisions of the Charter. The country will benefit from these economic reforms,” the lawmaker said.