House reso on economic Cha-cha filed

House leaders on Monday filed a resolution which proposes certain amendments to the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

''The nation's economic policy must be reframed under the demands of this increasingly globalized age, while still protecting the general policy of Filipino-first that guides the economic provisions of the Constitution,'' Resolution of Both Houses 7 stated.

''There is a need to institutionalize the reforms laid down in the Public Service Act to liberalize industries, promote efficient service delivery, and foster competition as an enduring policy,'' it added.

The resolution was filed by Representatives Aurelio Gonzales Jr., David Suarez, and Manuel Jose ''Mannix'' Dalipe.

In the resolution, Section 11 of Article XII (National Patrimony and Economy) is amended to read as follows:

"Section 11. No franchise, certificate, or any other form of authorization for the operation of a public utility shall be granted except to citizens of the Philippines or to corporations or associations organized under the laws of the Philippines, at least sixty per centum of whose capital is owned by such citizens, UNLESS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW; nor shall such franchise, certificate, or authorization be exclusive in character or for a longer period than fifty years. Neither shall any such franchise or right be granted except under the condition that it shall be subject to amendment, alteration, or repeal by the Congress when the common good so requires.''

''The State shall encourage equity participation in public utilities by the general public. UNLESS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW, the participation of foreign investors in the governing body of any public utility enterprise shall be limited to their proportionate share in its capital, and all the executive and managing officers of such corporation or association must be citizens of the Philippines."

Further, Paragraph 2, Section 4 of Article XIV (Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture, and Sports), is amended to read as follows:

"Section 4. (2) BASIC educational institutions, other than those established by religious groups and mission boards, shall be owned solely by citizens of the Philippines or corporations or associations at least sixty per centum of the capital of which is owned by such citizens. The Congress may, however, require increased Filipino equity participation in all educational institutions. The control and administration of educational institutions shall be vested in citizens of the Philippines, UNLESS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW."

Earlier, the Senate began its deliberations on RBH No. 6, which also seeks to amend some economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, particularly Articles XII, XIV, and XVI.

The constitutional provisions on public services, education, and advertising industry will be amended by adding the phrase "unless otherwise provided by law."

Dalipe earlier challenged the Senate to fast-track the passage of RBH No. 6 to end the ongoing people's initiative.

The lawmaker made the remark amid the Senate's repeated call for the House of Representatives to end its supposed support for the present people's initiative, which seeks to amend the 1987 Constitution to allow Congress to vote jointly on the proposed amendments to the charter.

The Commission on Elections, for its part, had suspended all the proceedings related to the people’s initiative to allow time to review and enhance the related existing implementing rules and regulations.—With reports from Llanesca T. Panti, KG/RF, GMA Integrated News