The Senate Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes listened to the pulse and views of stakeholders in the Cordillera and Region 1 on the proposed amendments to the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution during a regional consultation in Baguio City.
The consultation held at the Lafaayette Luxury Suites here on May 17 was presided over by Senator Sonny Angara. He was joined by his six Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) co-authors, senators Miguel Zubiri and Loren Legarda.
Sen. Bong Go and Ronald dela Rosa also attended the event that was participated in by local chief executives, officials of regional line agencies and state universities and colleges, and private sector representatives from CAR and Region 1.
The constitutional amendments proposed under the RBH aim to amend Section 11, Article 12 (National Patrimony and Economy); Paragraph 2, Section 4 of Article 14 (Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture and Sports); and Paragraph 2, Section 11 of Article 16 (General Provisions).
Angara said amendments to the economic provision of the Constitution only aims to open up the sectors of public utilities, higher education and advertising to foreign investors, improve economic competitiveness, and bring better services to the Filipino people.
He assured opening such sectors to foreign investments will not be disadvantageous to the country and the Filipinos because there are still laws, policies, and regulations that are in place or can be put in place to safeguard the rights and welfare of the Filipino people.
Zubiri, Legarda, Go, and dela Rosa, in their respective statements, assured rights and welfare of the country and its citizens will be the priority considerations in the proposed amendments.
The views and insights of various sectors expressed during the public hearing and consultations will all be considered before they present their report.
The Senate sub-committee already conducted five public hearings. The consultation in Baguio City was the first and the Luzon leg of a series of regional consultations being conducted. – Carlito Dar
