Economic Cha-cha a welcome gift for Apec leaders – Bayan

MILITANT umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) blasted the approval of the economic Charter change bill on 2nd reading.

In a statement, Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said that Congress is railroading the passage of the measure so that the Aquino administration can present a “welcome gift” to the leaders of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) economies who will be in the country for a summit in November.

“The Lower House is rushing Charter change as a welcome gift to Apec leaders who are set to arrive in the Philippines in November. Aquino is desperate to please his foreign masters by opening up the PH economy and putting our land, patrimony, utilities and even the media up for sale to foreign powers,” Reyes said.

Resolution of Both House No. 1, which was authored by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., was approved on second reading by voice voting on Wednesday.

If approved, the resolution will insert the phrase “unless otherwise provided for by law” in the Constitutional provision which currently grants 60-40 percent ownership to Filipinos and foreign investors, respectively.

This means that with a legislation from both Congress chambers and a plebiscite, the changes in the Constitution’s economic provisions can be enacted.

Reyes warned of the “dangerous” implications of the proposed measure, saying that it will “pave way for unrestricted foreign control” of the country’s economy.

“Foreign corporations, not the Filipino people, will benefit from such a lopsided arrangement,” he warned.

He urged Filipinos to resist the approval of the resolution, which he deemed as “patently anti-Filipino and pro-foreign interest.”

“In a time when China is claiming our seas and islands, when the US wants to carve out new bases in our territory and when Congress is scheming to put up our country for sale, we call on the people to stand up and defend national sovereignty,” Reyes said.

Two-thirds of House members or about 200 solons are needed so that the bill can be approved on third and final reading.

Philippines is the host of year-long Apec meetings which will be capped off by an Economic Leaders Summit on November 17 to 18 in Manila attended by the leaders of Apec member economies. AC