SOME government officials in Cebu supported the initiative to amend the economic provisions under the 1987 Philippine Constitution during the public hearing held by the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendment and Revision of Code at the Seda Hotel on Thursday, March 16, 2023.
This was announced by Senator Robinhood Padilla, chairman of the committee who paid a courtesy call on Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama before the hearing, which was attended by hundreds of participants from different sectors.
"Opo, sumusoporta po ang ating mahal na gobernador at ang ating mahal na mayor (Yes, our beloved governor and mayor are supporting)," Padilla said.
Padilla made an example that Cebu will always be first, where he revealed that when the revolution against the Spaniards broke out, Cebu or Visayas was the first to create a federal Republic.
According to Rama, one of the speakers of the event, it is appropriate that there be a charter change, notably in the economic provision.
“If it is not now when, if it is not us, who?” Rama said, expressing his support to amend the Constitution.
“Let's not live in the worries of the past, let’s not work and still think about the so-called what had happened in the past but the most important thing is that I wish to support the constitutional amendment and the revision of code for the future," he added.
Victor Buendia, barangay captain of Labangon in Cebu City and one of the participants, said he supports the amendment provided that no changes are made that will disadvantage the Filipino people.
Padilla, who was accompanied by Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, promised the people that the amendment would not be misused and that they would stand up for the interest of the people.
The top senator said that during the public hearings held in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, they had already won the approval of local officials and the public to amend the economic measures.
He added that after the hearing Thursday, March 16, his office will draft a committee report that will be reviewed by former President Rodrigo Duterte and his colleagues in the PDP-Laban before authorizing the committee members to submit their report to the plenary.
Under the current provision, foreigners are prohibited from owning land in the country, but under his proposed reform, they would be permitted to own up to five hectares of land where they could set up their businesses and help improve the country's economy.
According to the neophyte senator, Filipinos should not worry because there are still restrictions in place, and that foreigners who purchased the land will be unable to take it with them when they move back to their home country.
He said it only needs P46 million to modify the Constitution if it goes through the Constitutional Assembly and is ratified at the time of barangay election. This amount, he added, is lower compared to the P14 billion at the Constitutional Convention. (PAC/TPT)