House to pursue Cha-cha

MANILA, Philippines - Leaders of the House of Representatives yesterday vowed to push for Charter change (Cha-cha) in the 16th Congress even after Malacañang rebuffed fresh efforts to amend the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez remain optimistic that President Aquino will eventually be open to efforts to revise the Charter if only to ensure the country’s “inclusive growth” with three years left in his administration.

“We always respect the point of view of Malacañang on issues like these, and in the same manner, we are also empowered by the Constitution to perform our duties like effecting reforms in the Constitution,” Gonzales said in a telephone interview.

Malacañang earlier had turned down efforts in the House, led by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., to undertake Charter change.

“Even if this does not happen in this Congress, things will really have to start. This is urgent. The more we work on this, the more the people will get to understand the true issues and see that this administration is transparent about this,” Gonzales said.

“The businessmen, the people have full trust and confidence in the President. But looking forward, they worry about what’s going to happen if there’s somebody... who will not pursue Charter change without any political agenda,” he added.

Gonzales said the issue on constitutional amendment could become “too political” as the 2016 general elections approach.

“We will hear the same old scare tactics against Charter change like prolonging terms of office. We will have none of that,” he said.

Rodriguez, president of the Centrist Democratic Party, said the high unemployment rate “is a clear and compelling reason to ease the economic restrictions in the Constitution.”

“We have good growth, low inflation, good credit ratings. But we have 7.5 percent unemployment, and among the lowest, if not the lowest foreign direct investments in Southeast Asia. We could be overtaken by Cambodia and Myanmar if we do not act and remain paralyzed by unfounded fears on amending the Constitution,” he said.

“We need an investment revolution if we want true and inclusive growth,” he added. “We have young people graduating every year without jobs.”

He said the President need not fear perceived dangers of Charter change as he himself could rein in possible amendments outside economic provisions.

Rodriguez said he would refile his bill calling for a constitutional convention, whose lifespan will only be for one year.

“If we agree to have a constitutional convention in December, its work will be done by 2015,” he said.

‘No need for Cha-cha’

Meanwhile, pro-administration Sen. Teofisto Guingona III expressed belief yesterday that Charter change will not solve the country’s economic woes and unemployment.

“I don’t think it is needed now. We need to strengthen our government institutions and stamp out corruption. We should make our government more efficient,” Guingona said in a radio interview.

While the Senate and the House are independent from the executive branch, the senator said one cannot set aside the influence of President Aquino on the matter.

Malacañang had reiterated many times that any efforts to amend the Constitution under Aquino’s term would not succeed.

On calls by the business groups over the need to ease up provisions on 60-40 percent sharing of business ownership in favor of local counterparts, Guingona said China and Singapore are “very prosperous” even if the two countries are not open to foreign ownership of lands and investments.

“There is one question that always recurs to me when it comes to Charter change: What about China? They also have the same system like ours on land ownership, yet they are prosperous,” he said.

Guingona cited the need for the government to have strong and consistent policies in dealing with investors.

“We have to see to it that we have predictability and consistency of policies. Also, the peace and order situation is a factor,” he added.

He lamented that the high cost of electricity in the country is a turnoff for investors.

“Investors want policy predictability, that’s one. Then the basics, like the cost of energy. These things we can address without changing the Constitution. Let us not make the Constitution a whipping boy,” he said.

Guingona clashed ideas with Belmonte and Senators Franklin Drilon, Ralph Recto, and Koko Pimentel, who are backing moves to amend the Constitution.

“This administration is very trusted as shown in the survey and results of midterm elections. A discussion or debate on liberalizing foreign investments is healthy for our democracy. Term extensions are not,” Recto said. - With Christina Mendez