‘Fewer Pinoys to work abroad if Charter revised’

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A RESOURCE person in the House of Representatives’ committee deliberations on the proposal to amend the “restrictive” economic provisions of the Constitution believes that many Filipinos would no longer need to seek employment abroad if Charter change succeeds.

Orion Perez Dumdum, principal co-founder of the Constitutional Reform & Rectification for Economic Competitiveness & Transformation (CoRRECT) Movement, said relaxing the Charter will increase foreign investments, create more better-paying jobs, and keep overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from leaving home for jobs abroad.

“This will be answered partially. As a first enabling step, this will be addressed by economic constitutional reform,” Dumdum told the House Committee of the Whole late Wednesday afternoon on the questioning of House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin of Iloilo.

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Dumdum said the Philippines needs to open its economy more as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) ranks it as the third most restrictive economy in the world.

“The effect of reducing foreign equity restrictions is the strongest, denoting its relatively greater importance as a statutory barrier for investors,” he said, quoting the OECD.

“Joint foreign chambers have repeatedly said they want (these restrictive economic provisions in the Constitution) out. These restrictions are discouraging for their countries.

These restrictions have to go,” said Dumdum.

Garin said she has observed that many Filipinos are lured by overseas companies due to the lack of quality jobs in the country despite being separated from their families, citing former business managers and owners who are forced to work in Vietnam for other companies.

“Ang pamilyang naiiwan nila rito ay napipilitang tiisin ang lungkot lalo na ang mga asawa’t anak dahil walang oportunidad sa Pilipinas (Their families here are forced to endure sadness especially that their spouses and children have no opportunity in the Philippines),” said the former health secretary.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), an estimated 1.96 million Filipinos worked abroad from April to September 2022. This marked a 7.6 percent increase from the 1.83 million OFWs in the same period in 2021.

Garin, a physician by profession, said medical professionals also choose to work abroad due to the lack of opportunities in the local medical industry that are on par with those in other countries.

“If we open up opportunities, even for research and other fields, wouldn’t our talented scientists, engineers, and professionals return to work in the Philippines?” she said.

“Doesn’t (House) RBH (Resolution of Both Houses No.) 7 imply that the Philippines will be opened up so that companies can afford higher salaries, leading to a better life for every Filipino family?”

Dumdum said that instead of just adding the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” in the economic provisions in question, it would be best to just totally delete it from the Constitution.

He agreed with Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chair of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, that RBH No. 7 should be entitled “The First Amendment to the 1987 Constitution” in place of the current title that specifies changes to the provisions on public utilities, education, and advertising.

Yesterday at the House, Commission on Elections chairman George Garcia said the poll body is prepared regardless if the Charter change plebiscite will be held this year or next year alongside the midterm elections, which President Marcos Jr. prefers as it would save the country some P13 billion in expenses.

“Kami po naman kung anong ipag-uutos talaga. Yun ang katotohanan. Kung anong sabihin ng Kongreso at mapagkasunduan ng Senate at House na dapat isabay (ang plebiscite at midterm elections ay) handang handa po ang Comelec. Yun po, walang gastos na dagdag yun. Sapagkat pahahabain lang ng konti yung balota (We’re just really following orders.

That’s the truth. Whatever Congress says and if the House and the Senate agree to hold the plebiscite and midterm polls together, then the Comelec is ready. It doesn’t have additional costs because the ballot only has to be longer),” he said.

Garcia, however, said it would also benefit the country if Congress would still study the advantages of holding the plebiscite separately from the 2025 midterm elections.

“Kaya lang ang sabi din po natin magandang mapag-aralan din sapagkat maganda rin na doon lang naka-focus itong mga kababayan natin sa issue ng pagbabago sa Saligang Batas. Saligang Batas kasi yan e, ‘di naman ordinaryong batas din ‘yan. (But we also said it’s also good to study it because it’s also beneficial that our people are focused on the issue of Charter change because we’re talking about the Constitution, not just an ordinary law),” he said.

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