House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Tuesday said that he would push for Charter Change with a focus on economic provisions once the 17th Congress has begun working on the proposed federalism measure of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“If I am asked one big thing that I wish I would have done [during the 16th Congress] that was it [passing of the economic Charter change]. Definitely, if they will push the Cha-cha through Constitutional Convention [ConCon] they should also consider other provisions including the economic amendments that we are proposing,” Belmonte said.
Congress may convene through a Constitutional Convention once it has started to change the form of government from republican to federalism via Charter Change, he said.
Belmonte lamented the inability of the House, under the 16th Congress, to pass the proposed economic Charter Change on third and final reading due to lack of quorum.
The House had already passed Resolution of Both Houses No. 1 of Belmonte on second reading last year. The chamber needs the vote of at least two-thirds of its membership, or 217 affirmative votes, to pass the measure.
The voting has also been affected by President Benigno Aquino III’s strong opposition to Charter Change.
“I hope this new administration will collate all of them [proposals changing the Constitution],” he added.
PDP-Laban Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte, the imminent House Speaker in the 17th Congress said the House, under his leadership, will prioritize a measure changing the 1987 Constitution, particularly on federalism.
He said they will do the Cha-cha through a Con-Con.
“Let’s take advantage of it. Given the strong moral demand, particularly in the initial years of his [Duterte] presidency, there is a chance that they will be swayed [to amend the Charter to push for federalism and also review cetain economic provisions] [and not the Cha-Cha for the purpose of lifting the term limits of public officials],” Belmonte added.
Belmonte had vowed to refile his resolution, or the so-called economic Cha-Cha, which seeks to amend the 60-40 rule that limits foreign ownership of certain activities in the Philippines. Several local and foreign business groups backed the passage of the measure in the 16th Congress.
He said the economic Cha-cha is a larger contributor to economic growth, as foreign direct investments (FDI) are seen to increase once ownership on estates and corporations, one of the issues raised by investors for not investing in the country, is relaxed.
“By amending the restrictive economic provisions of our Constitution, we empower Congress to enact laws that will attract the kind of investments that will reverse the de-industrialization and de-agriculturalization of our economy,” Belmonte said.
The resolution, filed by Belmonte and Senator Ralph Recto in the Senate, will include the phrase “unless provided by law” in the foreign-ownership provision of the Constitution, particularly land ownership, public utilities, natural resources, media and advertising industries.
Article XII of the 1987 Constitution provides that foreign investors are prohibited to own more than 40 percent of real properties and businesses, while they are totally restricted to exploit natural resources and own any company in the media industry.