Some senators opposed to Charter change would change their stand on amending the 1987 Constitution when they hear the views of the country’s legal luminaries, top economists, and other resource persons, Senator Sonny Angara said Tuesday.
“Some of my colleagues may possibly change their minds along the way. Maybe they will be swayed by the arguments they will hear in the coming weeks and months,” said Angara.
Meanwhile, lawmakers at the House of Representatives allayed fears of some business groups on proposals to amend the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution, saying they should attend hearings on Charter change and express their misgivings about the efforts.
Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman maintained that business groups expressing apprehension about economic amendments to the Constitution should attend the congressional hearings.
“Is this what businessmen are really saying? I’d like to hear directly from them because so far, I’ve been listening to businessmen say that this will actually be beneficial to our country,” Roman, chairperson of the House committee on women and gender equality, said.
The subcommittee on the Senate Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, chaired by Angara, will conduct today its fourth hearing today on Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, which seeks to amend the Constitution.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III and Sen. Cynthia Villar said they have at least seven to eight votes, enough to junk “Cha-cha” moves in the upper chamber.
But Angara said: “I think that is the reality, but the good thing is it is not yet time to vote.”
La Union Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega V echoed Roman’s views, noting that big business leaders should be invited as resource persons in the Senate or in the House so they could clearly articulate their concerns.
“For me, they should engage in the hearings of RBH 6 because that’s where they will present their side, engage in the debate, in the discussions. Then the person will look at the advantages and disadvantages, maybe it’s not for Juan, it’s not for the majority,” Ortega said.
“So we should see the advantages and disadvantages, especially business tycoons, moguls or big business people. They should show [us and help us] weigh on the pros and cons. So I suggest that they attend the hearings [in the Senate] or even attend the hearings here in the House of Representatives,” he added.
Roman said allowing foreign investors into the country in sectors targeted by the Charter amendments will be beneficial for the Filipino people.
She said in business, competition is always essential, as it benefits consumers because companies do better to sell more.
“Competition is good because when there is competition, companies will vie for customers and clients and how do they do that? By improving the quality of their services, of their products, and by lowering prices,” Roman said.
“So, this is how these amendments to the economic provision can directly impact the lives of so many Filipinos,” she added.
Deputy Speaker and Quezon Province Rep. David Suarez agreed with Roman and said competition benefits the people.
“Competition breeds excellence. So if you want to have better products, better services, better employment opportunities, a better high-paying job for the Filipino people, we need to allow them (foreign investors) to come in,” Suarez said.
“We also need to send a signal to the world, now the doors of the Philippines are open for more foreign direct investments to come in which will only bring more opportunities for the Filipino people,” he added. Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel Cruz
