House sets Charter hearing on economic amendments next week

Thursday, 06 October 2011 20:44 Fernan Marasigan / Reporter

THE House of Representatives’ Committee on Constitutional Amendments is set to hear on Tuesday a resolution seeking to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution, a move described by militant legislators as “a mad rush for the global auction of the country’s patrimony” to foreign investors.

Party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis said the scheduled hearing next week “revealed President Aquino’s posturing about Charter change.”

Mariano asked why the allies of Mr. Aquino in the House are rushing the debates on House Concurrent Resolution 10 when a great number of residents of Central and Northern Luzon are yet to recover from the devastation wrought last week’s back to back Typhoons Pedring and Quiel.

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The typhoons, which hit the country one after the other in less than a week, spawned heavy rains and unleashed widespread floods, notably in Bulacan, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija. Damage to agriculture and infrastructure has climbed to P12 billion, according to government disaster and relief agencies.

Besides, Mariano stressed, Congress is about to adjourn by next week.  “Obviously, the committee’s move is in compliance with the Aquino administration’s party whip to his allies to fast-track moves to amend the charter and pave the way for the full control and monopoly of foreign big businesses on lands, utilities and services,” said Mariano, also the chairman of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).

On Tuesday the committee will deliberate on House Concurrent Resolution 10 and will focus on the following issues:

· Removal of the 60-percent to 40-percent equity limitation on foreign investors;

· Removing the control and management exclusively by Filipinos in companies with foreign equities;

· Expanding the role of foreign investors in the exploration, development and utilization of natural resources;

· Allowing foreign ownership of industrial lands;

· Liberalizing media by allowing foreign investments in mass media entities;

· Liberalizing the practice of profession in accordance with the principle of reciprocity;

· Liberalizing investments in educational institutions by allowing foreign investments in tertiary education; and

· Extending the 25 years plus 25 years land lease agreement.

Randall Echanis, KMP deputy secretary-general, said the peasant group “will register the Filipino peasantry’s strongest rejection to the Aquino administration’s moves to put lands into global auction.”

“Amending the economic provisions of the Constitution, particularly the removal of restrictions on 100-percent foreign ownership of lands, media, and public utilities, are obviously linked to Mr. Aquino’s grand design to lure foreign investments. Mr. Aquino’s strategy is to distance himself from Cha-cha while not decisively shooting it down,” said Echanis.

“It is the height of irony and injustice that foreigners will be given full ownership and control over vast tracts of lands while millions of Filipino farmers remain landless. Mr. Aquino’s Charter change will surely face the wrath of the peasantry,” he added.