Majority of Filipinos do not know Charter change moves in House – Pulse Asia

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – If this survey is to be believed, majority of Filipinos are not even aware that a Charter change resolution has been filed in the House of Representatives, Pulse Asia said on Wednesday.

But more of the Filipinos who knew of the resolution agree on the moves to amend the Constitution, the survey added.

According to the survey, six of 10 Filipinos or 61 percent “have not heard, read, or watched anything about the resolution filed in Congress calling for amendments to the so-called restrictive provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.”

The survey was referring to House Resolution filed by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. seeking to ease the foreign ownership restrictions in the charter.

The resolution would add the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” to the Constitution’s articles concerning the national economy and patrimony; education, science, technology, arts, culture and sports; and general provisions. This means the charter may only be amended after Congress passes a law lifting the restrictions.

Lack of awareness was noted in majorities of geographic areas and socio-economic classes, the survey said.

The most number of Filipinos unaware of the resolution and only finding about it from the survey is found in the Visayas at 72 percent, followed by Mindanao at 71 percent. At least 57 percent of Filipinos in Luzon is not aware of the resolution.

But more Filipinos were aware of the measure in the National Capital Region, with 57 percent having knowledge of the resolution.

Majority of the Class E or 73 percent is not aware of the resolution, while 59 percent in Class D is also not aware. At least 42 percent in Class ABC does not have knowledge on the resolution.

Among those who are aware of the Charter change measure, 44 percent agreed to it while 36 percent is undecided. Only 19 percent said they disagreed to the resolution.

The survey noted a majority in Metro Manila or 58 percent as saying they agree to the resolution.

Meanwhile, nearly the same percentage in Luzon (45 percent versus 39 percent) and Visayas (41 percent vs. 39 percent) either agree with the resolution or are undecided on the matter, respectively.

Also, nearly the same percentage of Mindanaoans is either against the resolution (35 percent) or undecided on it (37 percent).

In the socioeconomic groups, a plurality in Class ABC (48 percent) agreed with the resolution.

Meanwhile, almost the same percentage in Class D (44 percent vs. 39 percent) and E (43 percent vs. 36 percent) agree with the move or are undecided on it.

The survey is based on 1,200 respondents spread across the country. It was conducted from March 19 to 26.

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