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Apr 11, 2024 09:50 AM
Citing the recent Pulse Asia survey in which 88 percent of Filipinos said they are opposed to amending the 1987 Constitution, Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon called on lawmakers to explain to the public in laymen’s terms the benefits to be realized through the proposed amendments.
Our (Filipino) people has zero knowledge on economic provisions you wanted to change in the Constitution. Because not a single provision was discussed to them,” he lamented on Wednesday, April 10.
Gadon added that lawmakers need to “be specific” so Filipinos “could understand economic Cha Cha.”
He suggested that the economic provisions that lawmakers hope to amend through Cha-cha must be discussed with the masses, so they will understand the benefits they stand to receive if the changes materialize.
Such is the case in the provisions allowing foreign ownership of the country's land, utilities and other natural resources, which Gadon said would bring competition and raise the standards of service fulfillment.
"Telcos, internet access, for example, if you tell our people that the entry of foreign entities will spark competition, services by service providers will surely improve. Same thing, goes to mining, foreign ownership of manufacturing plants etc.," he added.
The official lamented that lawmakers keep on mentioning the term “economic provisions” without discussing what it means for the people.
“Be specific,” Secretary Gadon said.
“That is why the False (Pulse) Asia survey has come out with 80 percent of the Filipino people are against Cha Cha,” Gadon stressed.
He also claimed that Pulse Asia is owned and managed by people close to and relatives of the late president Corazon Aquino, under whose term the 1987 Constitution was enacted.
"Some of our lawmakers are also saying that it's not the best time for Cha-cha, because the survey say so. These people (congressmen against Cha-cha, and owners of Pulse Asia) are protecting the Cory constitution," he explained.
Meanwhile, Gadon once more pushed for the political provisions he said must be included in the Cha-cha.
He clarified that the suggestions he made do not include term extensions but rather limits the term of a local official to six years instead of the three-years-per-term currently being enforced.
This, the official added, can save billions of pesos because the elections will only be held once every six years.
"P12 billion per elections is being spent. Doing it twice instead of three times will save a lot of money for poverty alleviation. Houses for the poor, health center and coverage, and even in education," Gadon said, adding that “(these) are only suggestions. They (congressmen and senators) should not consider it as an insult.”
The House of Representatives passed the Resolution of Both Houses 7 (RBH7) amending "restrictive" economic provisions in the Constitution just before Holy Week.
The Senate, on the other hand, will complete deliberations on Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, co-authored by Zubiri and Senators Loren Legarda and Sonny Angara, in October though it is unclear if they can get the needed 18 votes.
Citing the recent Pulse Asia survey in which 88 percent of Filipinos said they are opposed to amending the 1987 Constitution, Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon called on lawmakers to explain to the public in laymen’s terms the benefits to be realized through the proposed amendments.
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