THE House of Representatives will convene as a Committee of the Whole on Wednesday to discuss the resolution proposing amendments to certain economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
During the plenary session on Tuesday, the House approved the motion of Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin for the committee to take up Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7, which proposes economic Charter changes (Cha-cha), particularly Articles XII (National Economy and Patrimony), XIV (Education, Science, Technology, Arts, Culture, and Sports), and XVI (General Provisions).
Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., one of the authors of RBH 7 filed on Monday, said the resolution “is very similar” to the Senate’s RBH 6, which would address restrictions on foreign ownership of public utilities, educational institutions, and advertising industries.
Both resolutions call for a constitutional assembly as a mode to amend the charter by restating the constitutional provision that Congress may propose amendments “upon a vote of three-fourths of all its members.”
Gonzales said the proposal leaves upon Congress the discretion to adjust the foreign ownership percentage with the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law.” (PNA)
