Senator Robinhood Padilla held a hybrid public hearing on constitutional amendments and revision of codes at The Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City on Thursday.
The public hearing was held in line with the Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 3 seeking to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution via Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass).
Padilla, chairman of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes, wanted to amend Sections 2, 3, 7, 10, and 11 of Article XII of the 1987 Constitution as well as Section 4(2) of Article XIV, and Section 11(1) and (2) of Article XVI.
“Sa kasalukuyan ang PIlipinas sa loob ng 83 economies sa buong mundo, pangatlo tayo sa pinaka mahigpit ang foreign direct investment. Base sa foreign investment attractiveness card noong 2020 ang Pilipinas ay nasa dulo, labing tatlo sa labing apat na ekonomiya sa Asia Pacific,” Padilla said.
He said the proposal has basis and not just a political grandstanding.
“Ito ay tunay na pangangailangan ng ating bansa at amendahan ang economic provision sa ating Saligang Batas. Magmula noong ‘90s sumisigaw na ang salitang globalization, ibig sabihin ang buong mundo ay nagkaroon na ng pag ne-negosyo. Trade investment.
Nakakalungkot tayong Pilipinas mahilig tayong sumama sa trade agreements. Binuksan natin ang bansa sa trade agreements pero ang nakakalungkot yung ating foreign investments, sarado pa rin. Binuksan natin ang ibang produkto sa ibang bansa pumasok sa atin pero yung investment na galing sa ibang bansa hindi natin pinayagang pumasok dito. Dapat sabay yan na pumasok, trade and investment,” he said.
Amendments to the constitution can be proposed by one of three methods: People’s Initiative, Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass), or Constitutional Convention (Con-Con).
Meanwhile, lawyer Eula Pertubos-Arias of the Jose Maria College of Law said in amending the constitution it is ideal to go through Con-Con.
“Basically, the People’s Initiative is already out of the table because based on the previous discussions masyadong, is almost impossible, logistically impossible, and budget constraints as well. Between the Con-Con and the Con-Ass, my personal belief is we should opt for the Constitutional Convention. Why? Because in Con-Con we have the participation of the people whereas when we say Con-Ass, it just the Congress and for me, the process of the proposing amendment to the constitution is it will be a big part of the history,” she said.
Arias, who is among the panelists during the public hearing, said at the very onset, there should be people’s participation in proposing amendments.
“How can we participate? Of course, in Con-Con people will vote for who will delegate to the Con-Con. Why also Con-Con? Because we have to put some sense or some level of integrity in the process of proposing amendments. Why? Because let’s face it the people has a certain level of distrust in the politicians kahit ngayon nga masyado nang maugong why would the Congress be the one to propose amendments, that is why if we have people’s participation we can have a certain level of integrity to the process of proposing the amendment,” she added.
The hearing was also attended by officials and representatives including the business chambers, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), tourism sector, and the National Economic and Development Authority 11 (NEDA 11).
Participating online were Senator Francis Tolentino and former Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Commissioner Greco B. Belgica.
