‘Dynamic Charter reforms to rev up economy’

IBA, Zambales — A 15-man presidential panel advocating constitutional amendments is batting for "dynamic" reforms that would rid the 1987 Charter of its "restrictive" features that hamper the influx of foreign investments, thus allowing the government to finally rev up the economy and create more and better jobs, especially in the countryside.

In a forum at the provincial Capitol here, Charter Change Advocacy Commission (AdCom) member Liberato Laus said the problem of creating quality jobs, especially in the rural areas, can only be resolved fully by opening the country’s protectionist economy to foreign investors through the Charter change (Cha-cha) route.

"The Constitution should be dynamic instead of restrictive, especially when it comes to its economic provisions," said Laus, a Pampanga-based businessman and a member of the Consultative Commission on Constitutional Amendments (Con-Com) that has recommended, among other things, the liberalization of the domestic economy.

In its December 2005 report to President Arroyo, the 55-member Con-Com proposed the lifting of constitutional provisions that bar foreigners from fully owning corporations dealing with, or getting engaged in, mining, public utilities, private education, advertising, and the mass media.

"There is a need to revisit the Constitution," Laus said. "We in the Con-Com came up with the proposal to lift the protectionist economic provisions in the 1987 Charter because this would help eradicate and uplift the economic conditions of the people."

"If we liberalize the economic restrictions in the Charter, we can expect more jobs to come in," he added.

Besides the forum in Zambales, the AdCom also brought its advocacy drive to Baguio City last Monday.

An AdCom team also motored to Balanga, Bataan last Tuesday and to San Fernando, Pampanga yesterday to explain the benefits and advantages of Cha-cha.

A separate AdCom team is in Urdaneta, Pangasinan today.

In a parallel move, the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) also launched this month its own advocacy campaign in order to bring the urgent issue of constitutional reforms down to the grassroots level.

Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado, who heads ULAP and the League of Provinces of the Philippines, said the initiatives of ULAP and AdCom, along with the drive in the House of Representatives to convert Congress into a constituent assembly, are "complementary moves aimed at mobilizing popular support behind constitutional reforms, as a way to effect systemic changes in our political and economic structures."