Lawmakers belonging to the so-called “Young Guns” bloc in the House of Representatives made a strong appeal to their counterparts in the Senate to act swiftly on their economic Charter reforms bill, which the Lower House approved early this year.
The petition, made on Sunday, is backed by a recent Tangere poll showing strong public support for constitutional amendments aimed at bolstering the Philippine economy.
Representatives Jay Khonghun of Zambales, Paolo Ortega V of La Union, Rodge Gutierrez of the 1-Rider party-list, Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur, and Jil Bongalon of the Ako Bicol party-list highlighted the necessity of these reforms to keep pace with global economic trends.
“In this era of fast global digitalization, the Philippines needs to level up by trying to compete, or at least be at par with advanced economies. We are sorely lacking infrastructure, which is why our Asian neighbors left us behind,” Khonghun said.
Ortega echoed this sentiment, questioning the need to maintain the status quo after nearly four decades since the first Marcos administration.
Gutierrez stressed the economic benefits of the proposed amendments. He urged the Senate to join them in unlocking the Philippines’ full potential and ensuring sustained economic growth through constitutional economic amendments.
“By attracting foreign investments and fostering a competitive, inclusive business environment, we can generate more jobs for Filipinos,” said the party-list solon.
Bongalon, also a lawyer, highlighted the practical aspects of the reforms. “We need some economic adjustments to keep pace with the demands of the global economy. Opening specific economic provisions can create a more dynamic and resilient economy facing future challenges,” he said.
The Tangere survey, conducted from May 21 to 25 with 1,500 respondents nationwide, revealed that 57 percent of Filipinos support key economic changes to the constitution, a slight increase from April’s figures.
The strongest support was noted among respondents from Metro Manila, Southern Luzon, and the Bicol region, while opposition was more prevalent in Mindanao, Central Luzon, and among the upper-income classes.
The survey underscored the perceived benefits of the constitutional amendment, with respondents citing job creation (72 percent), higher economic growth (68 percent), increased salaries and work benefits (67 percent), and lower prices for goods and services (63 percent).
