Leaders of eight major political parties and blocs in the House of Representatives have inked a manifesto expressing their “full and unwavering” support for the approval of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco’s Resolution of Both Houses No. 2, which seeks to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
“We believe that now is the most opportune time to resume the deliberation on the amendments to the economic provisions specified under RBH No. 2 for the primary purpose of mitigating and providing lasting solutions to the devastating economic effects brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the three-page manifesto read.
“In doing so, we hope to fortify and safeguard the foundations of our nation from future crises and curtail the severity of other economic regressions going forward.”
Among those who signed the manifesto dated January 13, 2021 were House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez for Lakas-NUCD, Deputy Speaker and Oriental Mindoro 1st District Rep. Salvador “Doy” Leachon, Rizal 1st District Rep. Michael John Duavit for the Nationalist People’s Coalition, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers for the Nacionalista Party, Cavite 4th District Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. for the National Unity Party, Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab for Hugpong ng Pagbabago, Deputy Speaker and 1-PACMAN Rep. Michael “Mikee” Romero for the Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc., and Aurora Rep. Rommel Rico Angara for the independent bloc.
In the manifesto, the key political leaders assured the public that there is a "united consensus” that Lower Chamber will “deliberate only on the economic provisions” as specified in Velasco’s RBH No. 2, which was tackled by the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments on Wednesday.
“The House of Representatives remains steadfast with its position that when Congress proposes amendments to the 34-year-old Charter, the House of Representatives and the Senate shall vote separately,” they said.
According to them, the proposed amendments will be submitted to the people for ratification on a plebiscite simultaneously with the May 2022 national elections.
“The House of Representatives remain firm in our resolve to utilize all means possible within the period left for the 18th Congress to adopt measures and introduce reforms that will provide the maximum benefit to the Filipino people and lead the country towards a robust and sustainable recovery,” they said.
RBH No. 2 specifically aims to revise certain economic provisions of the 34-year old Constitution, particularly Articles XII (National Patrimony and Economy), XIV (Education, Science, Technology, Arts, Culture and Sports) and XVI (General Provisions).
Under RBH No. 2, Velasco proposed that the constitutional limits on foreign ownership of land, natural resources, schools, media and public utilities be lifted to ensure the flow of foreign investments into the country.
“In order to fully transform this economic growth into inclusive and solitary progress among Filipinos, the restrictive economic provisions in the Philippine Constitution which hamper the flow of foreign capital investments must be lifted,” Velasco said.
Velasco’s measure seeks to insert the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” to several sections of the Constitution which restrict foreign ownership of land, natural resources, public utilities, media, and advertising.
It provides that by a vote of three-fourths of all its members, the Senate and the House of Representatives voting separately could propose amendments to Articles XII and XIV and XVI of the 1987 Constitution.