Lawmakers welcome positive Cha-cha survey results

House of Representatives. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Sunday welcomed the results of a survey which showed that the majority of Filipinos support Charter change (Cha-cha)

Research firm Tangere previously bared that 52 percent of Filipinos agreed that the Philippines should amend the 1987 Constitution.

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said in a statement that he is “encouraged” by the survey’s results which he said indicates a “pivotal shift in public sentiment” on Cha-cha.

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Economic provisions

He likewise vowed to make the push for the amendment to some of the Constitution’s economic provisions to succeed, saying that the House of Representatives is “determined to sustain this momentum and collaborate with all parties involved to realize the constitutional amendments that will pave the way for a more prosperous, just, and equitable future for the Philippines.”

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In a separate statement, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe said that Tangere’s survey results “underscore the widespread recognition among Filipinos of the need for change and reform.”

“It is encouraging to see that a majority of our citizens are in favor of Cha-cha, signaling a collective desire for progress and improvement,” added the Zamboanga City representative.

House Deputy Speaker David “Jay-jay” Suarez also welcomed the survey results as a “testament to the Filipino people’s desire for meaningful reforms.”

Clear mandate

Meanwhile, House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin said the survey findings provide a clear mandate for action, prompting House members to renew their commitment to further advancing Cha-cha initiatives in Congress.

“We in the House stand ready to translate the will of the Filipino people into tangible legislative reforms that will benefit our nation for generations to come,” said the Iloilo representative.

The push for Cha-cha

On March 20, the House of Representatives approved on the third and final reading the Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7, which seeks to amend the “restrictive” economic provisions of the Constitution.

RBH No. 7 and the Senate’s RBH No. 6, from which the House resolution was derived, aim to modify three sections of the 1987 Constitution. They propose adding the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” to:

1. Section 11 of Article XII (National Patrimony and Economy), which restricts foreign ownership of public utilities, except when 60 percent of the total capital belongs to Filipino citizens.

2. Section 4 of Article XIV (Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture, and Sports), which limits foreign ownership of basic educational institutions, except when 60 percent of the total capital belongs to Filipino citizens.

3. Section 11 of Article XVI (General Provisions), which contains two parts: first, it restricts foreign ownership in the advertising industry, except when 70 percent of the total capital belongs to Filipino citizens; and second, it limits foreign investors’ participation in entities to their capital share.

Before being ratified, however, Constitutional amendments must first be voted on by Filipinos through a plebiscite conducted by the Commission on Elections.