Romualdez ‘happy’ over Marcos’ clarification on economic Cha-cha

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is elated that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has clarified that he only wants the amendment of economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution — a stand that the House has reiterated several times now.

In a statement on Thursday, Romualdez said that Marcos has now made it clear that proposed constitutional amendments are only meant to ensure that the economy improves if foreign investment restrictions are removed, which can lead to more investments.

“The President made it clear that these provisions hinder the entry of foreign investments and the potential for faster and inclusive economic growth, which in turn could translate into a better life for every Filipino,” Romualdez said.

READ: Marcos wants only economic reforms in Constitution 

“We are happy that he also took note of our consistent advocacy in the House of Representatives for changing those restrictive provisions for more than three decades since the 8th Congress, or since 36-37 years ago,” he added.

Romualdez also maintained that they had never planned to push for political reforms, worrying that it may already be annoying to hear it several times.

“At the risk of being makulit, we have been saying that we do not advocate any political amendment,” he added.

President Marcos stated that the constitutional amendments that his administration wants “extends to economic matters only, or those strategically aimed at boosting our country’s economy” and “nothing more.”

“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,” the President said in his speech at a Constitution Day celebration in Makati City.

The House has been accused several times by the Senate of being behind the people’s initiative (PI) — a way to amend the 1987 Constitution by garnering signatures.  Senators claimed that the PI is out to abolish the Senate by introducing joint voting in deciding on the proposed constitutional amendments.

READ: Senate manifesto nixes people’s initiative, warns of no-el scenario

House leaders including Romualdez have denied being behind the PI, saying several times that they do not intend to abolish the Senate.  Instead, lawmakers reiterated that they were calling for a constituent assembly through Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, passed by the House last March 2023.

READ: House leaders say there’s no plan to abolish Senate, now pushing RBH 6

Eventually, the Senate filed its own version of RBH No. 6, which the lawmakers hoped would end the squabble between the two chambers.  However, tensions continued when the House on Monday adopted a resolution defending Speaker Romualdez from the Senate’s alleged “intense assaults.”

Lawmakers also questioned why the Senate is now looking to finish the discussions by October 2024, when it was Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri who mentioned a March deadline.  This led Dalipe to question senators if they support constitutional amendments amid fears that RBH No. 6 would die again at the Senate like other proposals.

READ: Dalipe to senators: Are you in favor of Charter change or not?