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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Farmers group opposes economic ChaCha

Farmers group opposes economic ChaCha

Published Feb 3, 2021 04:18 pm

Farmers group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) on Wednesday reiterated its opposition against the proposed economic charter change (ChaCha) after the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments adopted the resolution on Tuesday.

(MB file, Keith Bacongco)

A total of 64 members of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments voted in favor of Resolution of Both Houses No. 2 filed by House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

Three members abstained from voting, while Bayan Muna Representatives Carlos Zarate and Ferdie Gaite, and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro voted against the ChaCha proposal.

"This is a fateful day for Filipinos. We just came from a protest at the Supreme Court against the equally ominous Anti-Terrorism Law when we learned about the disheartening news that the House Committee green-lighted Charter Change," KMP chairperson Danilo Ramos said in a statement.

"This just proved that the interest of the people did not prevail in the Congress. I hope that does not happen in the Supreme Court," he added in Filipino.

KMP has been staunchly opposing attempts of ChaCha by the government. The group said that ChaCha, especially economic ChaCha that  aims to further open up and liberalize the local economy, will be "the scourge of Filipinos."

"Nothing will be left for future generations of Filipinos if we allow ChaCha to prosper," Ramos said. 

The proposed amendments will remove prohibition on foreign ownership of public utilities, natural resources, and land, which are all protected by the 1987 Constitution.

Ramos said the long-term foreign direct investments liberalization (FDI) will cause "irreversible damages to the local economy."

"How can our legislators even think about liberalizing FDIs when we do not even have the solid foundations for a sound economy -- genuine land reform and a developed rural economy. Only the big business, foreign and local conglomerates will benefit for more FDIs," the peasant leader said.  

Ramos added that genuine land reform, not the expansion of FDIs, is the correct yardstick for a genuine and lasting economic development. 

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