Senate to review economic provisions of 1987 Constitution

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — With President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s go signal, the Senate will finally review economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, but not those on foreign land and media ownership.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, in a press conference on Monday, said Marcos has a clear “directive” on which provisions should be amended.

“I hope the President will not be upset if I share this information, pero si President mismo ayaw niya ng lupa na ibigay sa foreigners. Siya mismo ang nagsabi, malabo ‘yun,” said Zubiri.

 (I hope the President will not be upset if I share this information, but the President himself does not want land to be given to foreigners. He himself said it.)

Zubiri said Marcos believes that such a move would burden the country’s housing programs.

“It will increase tax rates and it will increase prices of land in the Philippines,” said Zubiri, quoting the President.

Zubiri specifically thanked the President for taking a stand because Senators “are one” in the upper chamber not to agree on foreign land ownership.

“He had a direction that said – keep away from land ownership and even media. He also doesn’t like the media because if there is foreign ownership of the media, that might influence it on certain agendas,” Zubiri explained. 

(He had a directive  –- keep away from land ownership and even media. He also doesn’t like it because if there is foreign ownership of the media, it might influence certain agendas.)

Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 — filed by Zubiri on Monday and signed by himself, Senate President Pro Tempore  Sonny Angara — seeks to amend economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

The amendments it seeks are specifically limited to the scope of public services, education, and advertising.

The resolution was filed in light of a signature campaign for Charter change (Cha-cha).

Zubiri, however, made it clear that Marcos himself agreed that Cha-cha through people’s initiative was too divisive.