‘NOTHING MORE’ | Amid cha-cha push, Marcos backs economic amendments to Constitution

February 9, 2024 , 12:03 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(February 9, 2024) – President Bongbong Marcos Jr. on Thursday expressed his support for the proposed economic amendments to the 1987 Constitution in a declaration welcomed by an ally in Congress.

Speaking at an event marking Constitution Day, Marcos stressed that his administration will focus on supporting economic amendments. This, amid concerns that political changes will also be inserted in the ongoing push for charter change.

“I want to make it clear: This administration’s position in introducing reforms to our Constitution extends to economic matters alone or those strategically aimed at boosting our country’s economy. Nothing more,” said Marcos.

He noted that there are certain economic provisions that “inhibit our growth momentum,” citing the view of some sectors.

“Anchored on these restrictive provisions, there are laws that prohibit certain kinds of foreign investments, thus limiting our economic potential and our global competitiveness,” added Marcos, who has repeatedly espoused the need to improve the country’s economic activity.

Senators, through a subcommittee led by Sen. Sonny Angara, have already started their discussion on Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6 earlier this week. Under this, the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” would be inserted on three provisions to ease the alleged economic restrictions.

Marcos clarified that they won’t rely on charter change alone to boost the country’s economy.

“This administration is going to continue to push hard to attract more foreign investments to significantly help us achieve our ambition of upper middle class income status by 2025,” said Marcos.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the chief executive’s cousin, said he was glad to hear the clear position of Marcos about the matter, noting that this approach “could translate into a better life for every Filipino.”

“We are happy that he also took note of our consistent advocacy in the House of Representatives for changing those restrictive provisions for more than three decades since the 8th Congress,” said Romualdez. “We have been saying that we do not advocate any political amendment.”

Romualdez was linked to the push for charter change via a people’s initiative, which seeks joint voting for the Senate and the House of Representatives in a constituent assembly. He denied starting the signature campaign but admitted he served as a “facilitator” when he met a pro-charter change group.

It appears that the rift between the two chambers on the issue of charter change has dragged on following the continued exchanges between lawmakers.

Earlier this week, House Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe urged senators to disclose their position on charter change. But Angara said they will do this at the proper time, considering that the upper chamber has just started its deliberations a few days ago.

Sen. Chiz Escudero also issued a similar remark in response to Dalipe’s challenge.

“Why don’t they come out in the open, be accountable, and admit to the public that they are truly the ones behind the pekeng People’s Initiative instead of doing a striptease?” said Escudero.

(PM)

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