MEMBERS of the House of Representatives who are pushing for Constitutional amendments have reached a consensus to lift its overly-protective economic provisions that restrict the inflow of foreign capital.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday said congressional deliberations on the proposed Constitutional amendments are more focused now on the need to encourage investments that would further stimulate economic activities, create job opportunities, reduce poverty and lower prices of goods and services.
He gave an indication this Wednesday morning of his colleagues’ inclination in a speech celebrating Constitution Day in Malacañang, with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. as guest of honor. Speaker Romualdez, who is Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) president, said the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments is currently conducting public hearings and consultations on proposed changes in the 36-year-old Constitution.
He said aside from hearings in the House at the Batasan complex in Quezon City, the committee chaired by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has scheduled public discussions and dialogues in other parts of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
“The proponents of the lifting of the economic provisions in the Constitution agree on one thing, opening the economy wide for inflow of foreign capital is the key to address the aspirations and ideals of Filipinos in present times,” Speaker Romualdez said.
“Ang pangarap ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino sa ngayon: isang mapayapang komunidad na may trabaho, mataas na sahod, murang bilihin, at pag-asang umunlad pa sa buhay,” the Speaker stressed.
“That is why, when the President in his travels as the number one salesman of the country, we are often asked that after you have made so much progress and gains in opening up the Philippine economy, the last missing piece of the puzzle remains, how about your restrictive Constitution? That is why we in Congress are facing up to this question and to this issue that burns to our minds today and may actually open up the aspirations of the Filipino people for tomorrow,” he said.
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