The Makabayan bloc shared that the House of Representatives will push Charter change (Cha-cha).
In a statement, members of the progressive bloc said the House Committee on Constitutional amendments has scheduled a hearing on Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. LRay Villafuerte’s House Bill (HB) No. 4926 which proposes to hold a constitutional convention no later than December 2023.
“As with previous Cha-cha efforts, the House will also tackle proposals to remove the constitutional prohibition on foreign ownership of land and restrictions on foreign investment in the economy, education, and mass media,” Makabayan said.
“With barely six months into the Marcos Jr presidency, the ruling coalition is already mobilizing to perpetuate themselves in power beyond what the Constitution allows and remove the remaining constitutional safeguards intended to protect the economy and patrimony for Filipinos. Once again, we call on the people to resoundingly reject this push for Charter change,” it added.
Makabayan noted that Filipinos do not need Cha-cha, saying that Congress should focus on helping communities manage inflation or the rising prices of goods like fuel, food, and transportation.
“This is not what the Filipino people need now. Measures on how to lower oil prices and that of basic goods and services as well as increase aid/ayuda for the poor are what’s needed, not Cha-cha to extend the terms of politicians and sell out the economy,” the bloc said.
The committee will also discuss the following possible amendments:
- HB No. 4421 – Prescribing the order of presidential succession
- Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 1 – Proposing amendments to Section 7, Article VI on Legislative Department; Section 4, Article VII on Executive Department; and Section 8, Article X on Local Government of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines
- RBH 2 – Proposing amendments to certain economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, particularly on Articles XII, XIV, and XVI
- RBH 3 – Proposing amendments to the 1987 Constitution, particularly Section 9, Article VIII
- RBH 4 – Proposing amendments to certain restrictive economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, specifically on Articles XI, XIV, and XVI thereof
- RBH 5 – Proposing amendments to certain provisions in the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, specifically on Article VII thereof
- House Joint Resolution12 – Calling for a constitutional convention to propose amendments to, or revision of, the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines
— Ronald Espartinez