THE leader of the House of Representatives on Monday appealed anew to members of the lower chamber to give economic Charter change (Cha-cha) a chance.
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., during his speech at the opening of the third regular session, said that his Resolution of Both Houses 1 (RBH 1 ) will complement country’s inclusive growth.
“It is now in that same spirit that I urge you, our dear colleagues, to ensure that we finally pass resolution of Both Houses No. 1. By amending the restrictive economic provisions of our Constitution, we empower Congress to enact laws that will attract the kind of investments that will reverse the deindustrialization and de-agriculturalization of our economy,” Belmonte told lawmakers.
“Only then can we encourage locators and investors to expand our manufacturing sector, the area where the better-paying decent jobs can be created. This is the best strategy to ensure that no Filipino will be left behind,” he said.
In June the 16th Congress adjourned sine die without approving on final reading a resolution filed by Belmonte amending the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution. Belmonte said he had aborted the move to put RBH 1 to a vote due to lack of votes to ensure its passage.
According to Speaker the economic Cha-cha, which was backed by foreign and local business groups, is a larger contributor to economic growth as foreign direct investments (FDI) are seen to increase once ownership on estates and corporations, one of the issues raised by investors for not investing in the country, is relaxed.
The resolution, filed by Belmonte and Sen. Ralph Recto, is eyeing to amend economic provisions on the 60-40 rule that limits foreign ownership of certain activities in the Philippines.
The resolution will include the phrase “unless provided by law” in the foreign-ownership provision of the Constitution, particularly land ownership, public utilities, natural resources, media and advertising industries.
Under Article XII of the Constitution, which ratified during the term of the President’s mother, then-President Corazon Aquino, foreign investors are prohibited to own more than 40 percent of real properties and businesses, while they are totally restricted to exploit natural resources and own any company in the media industry.
Belmonte, however, admitted that “it’s very tight to revive the [economic Charter change” due to lack of time.
Under the legislative calendar, Congress will adjourn from October 10 to November 2. The session will again resume from November 3 to December 18.
The third and last regular session of the 16th Congress is expected to be cut short because of the 2016 national and local elections in May next year.
Other priorities
Meanwhile, Belmonte said the lower chamber will prioritize the passage of the following priority measures in the remaining months of the year:
- the proposed basic law on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBar)
- 2016 P3.002-trillion national budget
- creation of the Department of Information and Communications Technology
- strengthening the build-operate-transfer law
- Pag-Asa Modernization Act
- Freedom of Information Act
- Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Bill
- Customs Modernization and Tariff Act
- National Identification System
- Prepaid SIM Card registration
- Barangay Officials Welfare and Incentives Act
- Philippine Immigration Act of 2015
- the law adjusting the amount involved, value of property or damage on which a penalty is based and the fines under the revised penal code
- the Healthcare Services Price Disclosure Act
- the law that will ensure that each school division has a center for children with special needs
According to Belmonte it is imperative upon Congress to address the long-standing grievances of the Bangsamoro people “by empowering them to fully provide for their self-expression and development.”
“To the end of achieving peace, we are also committed to passing the BLBar. For far too long, the conflicts in the Bangsamoro have taken on different forms, rooted in passions that feed on discrimination and deprivations that are fueled by poverty. We must address the longstanding grievances of the Bangsamoro people by empowering them to fully provide for their self-expression and development,” he said.
“But this has to be complemented by clear and decisive legislative language to accommodate and empower not just the new majority of the Muslims in the Bangsamoro, but also for all other groups whose lives, family and work are located in these regionally autonomous areas of the Bangsamoro,” the Speaker added.
At least 20 members of the lower house are still set to interpellate the BLBar.
The BLBar aims to create the new Bangsamoro juridical entity replacing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Currently the proposed BLBar is under plenary deliberations at the House of Representatives, while the Senate version is under committee deliberations.
The lower chamber is eyeing to pass the BLBar in September.
While the lawmakers are busy deliberating the BLBar, Belmonte also urged his colleagues to “have the courage to finally come to peace with one another, and ourselves” by resuming peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF).
“As we work toward achieving real and lasting peace in Mindanao, we must also have the courage to finally come to peace with one another, and with ourselves, by exploring all avenues for peace, including the possibility of reopening peace negotiations with the CPP-NDF,” he said.