Lawmakers hail, defend Charter change moves
Senators on Tuesday, January 16 expressed their support for Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, who recently led the filing a Senate resolution that seeks to pursue amendments to the 1987 Constitution, but only limited to revisions in its economic provisions.
“I have taken the position for the longest time to support discussions on amending certain provisions of the Constitution that would lead us to fully realize the economic potential of the country,” Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said.
“In certain industries, there are restrictions for foreign ownership. Currently, in the case of operation of public utilities, only up to 40% foreign ownership is allowed while for educational institutions, even partial foreign ownership is prohibited,” Gatchalian pointed out.
On Monday, January 15, Zubiri led the filing of Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 which seeks to institutionalize reforms laid down in the Public Service Act to liberalize certain industries, promote efficient service delivery and promote competition.
Apart from Zubiri, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda and Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara coauthored the measure.
Gatchalian earlier filed Resolution of Both Houses No.1, also in a bid to amend certain restrictive economic provisions.
He noted that despite the country’s strong economic growth, the economy is still characterized by constitutional restrictions such as limits to foreign equity in the ownership and operation of public utilities, educational institutions, mass media, and advertising.
“In certain industries, there are restrictions for foreign ownership. Currently, in the case of operation of public utilities, only up to 40% foreign ownership is allowed while for educational institutions, even partial foreign ownership is prohibited,” he said.
In order to sustain economic growth, Gatchalian said such restrictions must be amended as they have constrained foreign direct investments (FDIS).
Angara, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and the subcommittee on constitutional amendments, also welcomed President Marcos’ directive to the Senate to lead the review of the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
“Now, it is still early and it is clear that the matter is only the economic provisions of the law and not the matter of the government system or terms, I think it is better to be clear,” Angara said in in an interview over Radio DZRH.
“Now, it is clear that this is only limited to the three provisions filed by Senate President Zubiri –and Senator (Loren) Legarda and myself—which are only in public services, in educational institutions and in advertising,” added Angara, who is also one of the authors of proposed RBH
Sen. Francis Tolentino said he, too, was supportive of the measure that the Senate President has filed, but said he would suggest to also include the minerals in the West Philippine Sea when the Senate debates on the measure is taken up in plenary.
Sen. Imee Marcos, President Marcos’ sister, also welcomed the latest development as she continues to express her disappointment over attempts to railroad Charter change through a Peoples Initiative (PI).