Marcos wants only economic reforms in Constitution

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday made himself clear: he only wants economic revisions in the Constitution.

Addressing lawmakers mostly from the House of Representatives during the Constitution Day celebration in Makati Shangri-La, Marcos said that the economic well-being of the country was his administration’s concern.

“I want to make it clear: This Administration’s position in introducing reforms to our Constitution extends to economic matters only, or those strategically aimed at boosting our country’s economy.  Nothing more,” said Marcos in his speech.

“Many sectors of our society, particularly business, have pointed to certain economic provisions in the Constitution that inhibit our growth momentum. Anchored on these restrictive provisions, there are laws that prohibit certain kinds of foreign investments, thus limiting our economic potential and our global competitiveness,” said Marcos.

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Marcos said that the House of Representatives has already filed over 300 bills proposing to amend restrictive economic provisions.

The President has been consistent in pushing for an economic charter change (Cha-cha).

However, both chambers of Congress have clashed over how to go about amending the 1987 Constitution.

Particularly, the House defended the people’s initiative (PI), which would move to have the House and the Senate vote jointly to amend the Constitution.

The 24-member Senate, which would easily be overwhelmed by over 300 lawmakers in the House, has slammed the PI.

While the Commission on Elections has indefinitely suspended the PI, the House and Senate are still locked in a word war over the Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, which would have Congress call for an economic Cha-cha.

READ: House not rushing Senate on RBH 6, Cha-cha