BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The resurrection of the proposed Charter Change, as far as economic provisions are concerned, got the support of Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
But every time the economic provisions are being introduced as reason for charter change, the political issue comes in, Lacson said.
“Once and for all, we just have to stick to economic provisions, and I am in favor of that,” he said yesterday.
House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco was reported to have given orders to tackle the proposed amendments to restrictive economic provisions.
On July 2019, Velasco filed a resolution proposing amendments to economic provisions, particularly the easing of limits on foreign ownership of lands, natural resources, public utilities, mass media, and schools in the Philippines.
“For many Congresses, we talked on economic provisions, and they were always derailed because there were talks or suspicions of extending the terms, and then everything stops,” Lacson said.
“Once and for all, I hope this present Congress will really be firm and go on with it, but stick to economic provisions,” he added.
Lacson said there is a need to reform the Constitution to attract investors.
“If that (foreign ownership) is allowed in other countries, then why not allow it here?” he said.
Asked if this is the proper time to discuss Charter change, amid the Covid pandemic, Lacson asked “How do we recover?” “A cha-cha on economic reforms will help us to recover,” Lacson added.*
