Castro: Arguments vs economic Cha-cha backed by facts, experience

MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan bloc’s reservations on the Congress’ ongoing push for the approval of the Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7, which seeks to amend the three economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, are not merely due to “fears” but based on “facts” and “experience,” according to ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro.

Castro’s statement came after House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin advised Makabayan bloc members “to shed their fear of changing the Constitution,” which the latter said would not improve the living conditions of Filipinos.

“We are speaking from experience, and our arguments are backed by facts,” Castro said in a statement sent to INQUIRER.net.

“We already experienced this before; they promised that when [utilities or commodities] are regulated, liberalized, or privatized, charges and prices will decrease, but what happened after the Electric Power Industry Reform Act was passed? Electricity bill increased. When downstream oil industry was regulated? Oil prices increased. When Rice Tariffication Law was passed? Rice price increased,” she stressed.

Other lawmakers earlier said that lifting foreign ownership restrictions in the Constitution could contribute immensely to the country’s economic growth and will allow the country to adapt to “fast-changing global geo-political, economic and technological conditions and developments.”

They also pointed out that this could entice foreign investments in the country and increase job opportunities.

READ: House committee of the whole approves RBH 7

Last Wednesday, the Committee of the Whole House approved RBH No. 7 after six days of hearings. Lawmakers earlier announced that they are scheduled to approve the resolution on second reading next week and finally pass it before the Congress on its Holy Week break on March 23.

Rushed discussions on RBH No. 7

Aside from addressing Garin’s claim, Castro likewise stressed how the time for deliberations on the resolution was cut short, even her time to deliver her interpellation and questions.

“And even when we ask specific questions, sponsors fail to answer satisfactorily. It looks like they are rushing the [approval] of this Charter change (Cha-cha), and they even used a mode not present in the Constitution,” the lawmaker lamented.

“That’s why we kept thinking that other amendments would be done through the economic Cha-cha by using the ‘unless otherwise provided by law’ provision as a precedent. Then they will also insert political amendments like term extension, removal of political dynasty, completely changing the system of the government,” she added.

Earlier, however, Garin and Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo appealed to the Makabayan bloc to trust their colleagues in the majority. He also assured them they would block any attempts to add any political amendment to the resolution.