Con-con to speed up economic progress – lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines — Another administration lawmaker has pitched the need to “tweak” the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution specifically through a hybrid constitutional convention.

“We need to tweak the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution to invite more foreign investments here in the country, stimulate the economy and provide jobs to millions,” Rep. Sonny Lagon of party-list Ako Bisaya said.

The House of Representatives recently passed House Bill 7352, which seeks the establishment of constitutional convention as mode of amending the Constitution.

“Bottom line is: the country is bouncing back from the ill effects of the pandemic. Small businesses closed down, and many people lost their jobs,” he added. He rejected insinuations lawmakers want the Constitution changed so they can have their three terms extended.

“Charter change has been a core discussion ever since the term of FVR,” he said, referring to then president Fidel Ramos by his initials. “And all administrations since then have started studying it. There have already been several papers or position papers that have been made, especially amending these provisions,” he said.

He stressed that amending the 36-year-old Constitution is sure to ”speed up the country’s recovery from the pandemic and will provide millions of jobs to Filipinos.”

“Sometimes, we mistake ‘rushing’ with ‘efficiency.’ I don’t think we can ever ignore that under the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, the House has been very productive,” Lagon asserted.

“We have passed a record number of bills and resolutions, and we passed President Marcos Jr.’s first national budget in record time,” he explained.

“All measures approved by the House of Representatives were discussed extensively, without sacrificing the free exchange of ideas and the deliberation of opposing views. None was sacrificed. The same thing can be said about RBH (Resolution of Both Houses) 6 and HB 7352,” he noted.

Some House members are expected to attend a public hearing on Monday of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes chaired by Sen. Robinhood Padilla.

“If it’s con-con, it will be brought to the Senate. It will be the responsibility of the House to present and explain,” Padilla said in Filipino.

At a public hearing in Cebu, Padilla wrapped up discussions on the proposed measure to set up a con-con in preparation for Charter change.

In a PowerPoint presentation, Padilla showed that amending the Constitution through con-con would cost about P14.7 billion as against the P46 million estimated cost of constituent assembly done simultaneously with the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

“If we want change, there is a way. We only need to be aware. We must unite to ensure progress for our country,” he said during the Cebu hearing.

The senator reiterated his position that only the Constitution’s economic provisions should be amended and that he would not allow “other agenda” inserted into the discussions.

“We will not tolerate any deception here,” he said in Filipino in response to concerns raised by Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry executive director Marlene Bedia over the possibility that lawmakers or Charter change delegates “might lose control of all the other agenda” once discussions on other issues – like extending term limits – begin.

“The benefits of these amendments to our economy will be felt not in the short term but in the long term,” Padilla said.

Padilla also said Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor Ejercito has indicated his intention to support changes only in the economic provisions of the Constitution. – Cecille Suerte Felipe