Unlock full economic potential of PH — House
ADMINISTRATION lawmakers yesterday pressed the Escudero-led Senate to give the Marcos Jr. administration’s push for constitutional reforms one last chance for the sake of economic development.
“We urge the Senate to join us in unlocking our nation’s 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,” Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez (PL, 1-Rider) said in a joint statement with colleagues.
Zambales Rep. Jefferson Khonghun said that in the 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.”
La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V added that “after nearly 40 years since the post-Marcos Sr. era, do we need a status quo? We have seen our neighbors progress. We have been a laggard; that’s the hard truth. But do we need to be a laggard forever?”
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong also stressed that “status quo is the last thing we need and we have to wake up from our long slumber, so to speak. Don’t we need to catch up? Can we not entertain change at all? Can we not try something new?”
Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon (PL, Ako Bicol) likewise reminded senators that the country badly needs 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. The proposal will help attract more foreign direct investments crucial for the Philippines’ financial expansion and infrastructure development,” he said.
Members of the House of Representatives have earlier expressed optimism that the leadership change in the Senate before Congress went on sine die break is a boon for the Charter change campaign. “It’s always possible that a change of leadership will also enhance the chances of Charter change,” Rep. Edcel Lagman has said.
But newly-elected Senate President Francis Escudero doused cold water on Lagman’s positive outlook, saying his position against Cha-cha did not change despite his election as the leader of the upper chamber.
He has reiterated that he sees no reason to amend the Constitution for now since the so-called strict economic provisions being sought to be revised have already been remedied in the last Congress.
Escudero was one of the eight senators opposed to Cha-Cha as previously mentioned by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Escudero said Charter change will be one of the issues that he will discuss with Speaker Martin Romualdez when they meet during the break, the date of which has yet to be settled.
The House-approved Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7 and the Senate’s version of the measure, RBH No. 6, only seek to amend what the House leadership describe as the “restrictive” economic provisions of the Constitution. No political amendments are included in both measures.
The House has already approved RBH 7, while RBH 6 is still pending in the Senate.
RBH No. 6 proposes that the voting be undertaken separately since senators will easily be outnumbered by congressmen if the voting will be done jointly.
