House Committee on Constitutional Amendments chairperson Alfredo Garbin on Monday urged senators to keep an open mind on the proposed amendments to the "restrictive" economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution to open up the country to foreign investments.
By ERWIN COLCOL, GMA News
Published January 11, 2021 3:32pm If there are minimal debates over it, the measure seeking to propose amendments to the restrictive economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution may hurdle the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments this week. House panel chair Alfredo Garbin made the remark on Monday as his committee gears up for Charter change (Cha-cha) deliberations in the chamber on Wednesday. Sa tingin ko naman, kung wala na masyadong tanong, at napagpasyahan na ng members ng committee, we can approve the bill [this week] so we can proceed coming up with a committee report para ito ay mai-adopt at mai-refer na sa plenaryo, Garbin told reporters in a virtual interview.
Published January 11, 2021, 2:10 PM
Three Catholic prelates believe the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is being used as an excuse to amend the Constitution.
“They are using all kinds of reasons to push for ‘cha cha’ (charter change), and now the coronavirus. Before it was for economic reasons and then to reform party list laws. This is very suspect,” Archdiocese of Manila apostolic administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo said in an interview Monday.
“At this time, to push for ‘cha cha’ is to extend terms or avoid election or avoid accountability (for) their misgovernance,” he added.
Retired bishops Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon and Teodoro Bacani Jr. agreed with Pabillo.
The House Committee on Constitutional Amendments assured the public Sunday that its deliberations on Charter change Wednesday will “plainly and exclusively” focus on the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
Opening Philippine economy to foreign capital vital for recovery By ERWIN COLCOL, GMA News
Published January 10, 2021 12:49pm Opening up the economy to foreign investors is crucial in helping the Philippine economy recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said Sunday as he pushed to amend the restrictive economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution. In a statement, Velasco confirmed that he has instructed the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments to open Charter change (Cha-cha) deliberations on amending the restrictive economic provisions in the Constitution as stated in Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 2 which he filed back in July 2019.