Photo credit: Rappler
See: https://www.rappler.com/nation/218187-house-2nd-reading-draft-federal-constitution
We have to continue our vigilance about the Senate moves related to the proposed charter change and legislative push for federalism from Malacanang and its rubber stamped House of Representatives.
Although I have not yet read the entire bill passed on 2nd reading by the House of Representatives today, I already noted the following disturbing negative proposed changes which this draft constitution contains such as follows:
Provisions promoting traditional politicians’ selfish interests to prolong their stay in power
- Removes the 1987 Constitution’s anti-political dynasty provision
- Removes the provisions imposing a two-term limit for senators and a 3-term limit for district and party-list representatives
- Each term for lawmakers will be 4 years long.
- The president and the vice president will each serve a term of 4 years and will be eligible for one reelection.
Provisions promoting the economic interests of the landed elite
- Removes the State’s policy to “promote comprehensive rural development and agrarian reform” in the present Constitution. Instead, the State shall promote “rural development, higher agricultural productivity, and equitable land ownership arrangements.”
- Removes provision saying the State shall “promote industrialization and full employment based on sound agricultural development and agrarian reform”
Provisions related to foreign ownership
- Removes the line saying the ownership and management of mass media “shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines or to corporations, cooperatives or associations, wholly-owned and managed by such citizens”
- Removes the line limiting the engagement in the advertising industry just for Filipino citizens or corporations or associations with at least 70% of the capital owned by Filipinos. Also removes the line limiting the participation of foreign investors in the governing body of entities based on their proportionate share in the capital.
- Removes the line saying the ownership and management of mass media “shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines or to corporations, cooperatives or associations, wholly-owned and managed by such citizens”
- Removes the line limiting the engagement in the advertising industry just for Filipino citizens or corporations or associations with at least 70% of the capital owned by Filipinos. Also removes the line limiting the participation of foreign investors in the governing body of entities based on their proportionate share in the capital.
The following proposed changes seem to indicate that many traditional politicians are aware and “threatened” about the influence of church and other civil society organizations at the different arenas or spheres.
- Relations between church and State shall be inviolable and “shall be governed by benevolent neutrality”
- Removes the State’s policy to encourage non-governmental, community-based, or sectoral organizations that promote the welfare of the nation
Given the present composition of the House of Representatives and even the Senate, we can not trust them in changing the present Philippine Constitution.
The Senate’s responses to the move to divide Palawan into 3 were really disappointing.
This move was pushed by the traditional politicians of Palawan (incumbent governor, congressmen and their minions in local government units). Both the lower and upper house railroaded this flawed bill about Palawan without genuine consultation with the local civil society organizations and experts.
Thus, we have to continue being vigilant and not relay on the senators’ declaration that the draft federal constitution will be “dead on arrival” when it reaches the Senate.
