House approves RBH 7 on third reading

MANILA, Philippines — Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7, which seeks to amend the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, has been approved on the third and final reading at the House of Representatives.

RBH No. 7 was approved before the House’ session adjourned on Wednesday, with 289 affirmative votes from lawmakers — most of whom were co-authors of the proposed measure.

There were seven lawmakers who voted in the negative, while two abstained.

RBH No. 7 and the Senate’s RBH No. 6 — which the House resolution was derived from  — propose to amend three provisions in 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

If these are ratified by voters in a plebiscite that would be conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Congress would have the power to set the rate of foreign ownership for the industries of public utilities, basic education, and advertising.

RBH No. 7 was approved by the House on second reading last March 13.

While the resolution has been approved by the House, it is unclear what next steps would be taken considering that the Senate subcommittee has not yet finished deliberating RBH No. 6.

Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe proposed that RBH No. 7 be brought to the Comelec already, while other lawmakers said that they still trust the Senate to fulfill their assurance that RBH No. 6 will be passed on time.