Cha-cha should also tackle economic provisions -- Nograles

MANILA, Philippines -- Amending "antiquated'' economic provisions in the Constitution should top the agenda in the debate on Charter change, apart from a shift to federalism, Speaker Prospero Nograles said Saturday.

Nograles said that "restrictive provisions,'' say on land ownership by foreign investors, among others, should be removed to create a better climate for investment in the country.

"These are economic provisions that have largely contributed to the slow growth of investments in the Philippines,'' he said in a statement.

Besides, he added, the country's neighbors in the Asia-Pacific have opened up their economies. "So I don't see any reason why we can't do the same.”

Nograles has said he was open to debating amendments or revisions to the 1987 Charter, but if approved, the changes should be implemented after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo steps down in 2010.

The Speaker met with Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. last Thursday on the latter's proposal to convene Congress into a constituent assembly to tackle and vote on a shift to a federal system of government.

"We had a candid and free-wheeling discussion on the Senate proposal. I proposed that if we decide to pursue Cha-cha, we have to look at the antiquated economic provisions of the Constitution apart from a possible shift to federalism,” he said.

Senators from the administration and opposition blocs have signed Pimentel's draft resolution calling on Congress to convene as a constituent assembly to revise the Constitution to adopt a federal form of government.

The Senate had fiercely opposed an earlier move by the administration-dominated House to revise the Charter preparatory to a shift to a parliamentary system.

Nograles said he and Pimentel, both from Mindanao, agreed that "debates should now start so that all issues pertaining to Cha-cha will be given full scrutiny.''

In principle, the two leaders also agreed on the option to turn both chambers into a constituent assembly, he said.

“Let our Senate and House committees meet informally to discuss details and rules of engagement as to joint or separate sessions, as to manner of voting separately or jointly and other such amendments to be proposed by the House,” the Speaker said.

With 15 senators backing Pimentel's proposal, the “biggest roadblock” to Charter change has been removed, Nograles said.

“At least now, the proposal came from the opposition-dominated Senate, so I think there is really a good chance that we can finally correct the defects of our Constitution,” he said.

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