No public support for Charter change resolution based on survey – Makabayan bloc

By: 11 years ago

ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio. Photo from congress.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines – Militant lawmakers claimed the latest Pulse Asia survey saying majority of Filipinos are unaware of the Charter change resolution could only mean that the measure is not supported by the public.

During the minority bloc briefing on Wednesday, lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc said the survey also proves that there are more important issues the House needs to focus on instead of making moves to amend the Constitution.

According to the Pulse Asia 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.”

ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio said only the business groups and foreign embassies would benefit from the resolution.

“This just goes to show that the Charter change push really does not come from the public… The survey only strengthens our fight against it,” Tinio said in Filipino.

Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan added that there are other more important issues to tackle besides Charter change.

“The sentiment of the common people is that there are other more important issues to talk about instead of amending the Charter,” Ilagan said in Filipino.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate noted that the bloc requested public consultations before the House panel approval of the resolution, yet no such consultations were done.

“This survey thus reflects this – that the people do not like Charter change,” Zarate said in Filipino.

The Charter change resolution filed by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. seeks to ease the foreign ownership restrictions in the Constitution. It hurtled the House committee on constitutional amendments on March 3.

The resolution would add the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” to the Charter’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.