One step closer: House OKs RBH 7 on second reading

MANILA, Philippines — Proposals to amend the 1987 Constitution are one step closer to actuality after the House of Representatives approved the Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7 on its second reading Wednesday.

During Wednesday’s session, RBH No. 7 was approved via viva voce or voice voting.

RBH No. 7 and the Senate’s RBH No. 6 — from which the House resolution was derived — propose amendments to the three following provisions of the 1987 Constitution by adding the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law”:

• Section 11 of Article XII (National Patrimony and Economy), where the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” is inserted in the provision that bars foreign ownership of a public utility shall except in a case where 60 percent of the total capital belongs to Filipino citizens
• Section 4 of Article XIV (Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture, and Sports) where the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” is inserted in the provision that bars foreign ownership of basic educational institutions except in a case where 60 percent of the total capital belongs to Filipino citizens.
• Section 11 of Article XVI (General Provisions) where the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” is inserted in two portions: first, the provision that bars foreign ownership in the advertising industry except in a case where 70 percent of the total capital belongs to Filipino citizens; and in the provision that limits foreign investors participation in entities to how much their capital share is

READ: House committee of the whole approves RBH 7

If the proposed amendments are approved by the House and the Senate and are ratified in a plebiscite, it would allow Congress to pass laws that would prescribe the rate of foreign ownership for these industries.