Removing protectionist provisions in Charter a threat to national security, says former lawmaker
MindaNews photo by ANTONIO L. COLINA IV
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 15 March) – Removing the protectionist economic provisions in the 1987 Philippine Constitution to open up the country to more foreign investors would pose a threat to national security, former Bayan Muna representative Neri Colmenares said.
During a forum on “Cha-Cha: Sasayaw o Aayaw?[]
Unboxing the Charter Change under the 1987 Constitution” at the Brokenshire Hotel Resort and Convention Center on Thursday, Colmenares said proponents of charter change (Cha-Cha) want to amend several economic provisions to allow full ownership of businesses in nationalized industries, including public utilities, by foreign investors.
He said other nations can easily control and exert pressure on the Philippines once Congress allows full ownership of public utilities to private foreign corporations by amending the charter.
“Wala ba kayong naiisip na national security problem pag hawak ng dayuhan ang kuryente? Kay US, China, Japan, Russia kung sino man ang dayuhan na may hawak ng kuryente mo? (Can you not see any national security problem if foreigners are the ones controlling our electricity? If US, China, Japan, Russia, or whoever controls our electricity?),” he said.
He said, for instance, if a wholly Chinese-owned company buys the Manila Electric Co.[]
, a power utility servicing Metro Manila, the People’s Republic of China can put pressure on the Philippines by curtailing the supply of power whenever any issue regarding the West Philippine Sea arises.
He said deleting the protectionist provisions to allow foreigners to have full ownership of public utilities, including, power, transportation, and communication, in favor of foreign companies can easily bring the Philippines to its knees.
Section 10 of Article XII (National Economy and Patrimony) of the Constitution provides: “The Congress shall, upon recommendation of the economic and planning agency, when the national interest dictates, reserve to citizens of the Philippines or to corporations or associations at least sixty per centum of whose capital is owned by such citizens, or such higher percentage as Congress may prescribe, certain areas of investments. The Congress shall enact measures that will encourage the formation and operation of enterprises whose capital is wholly owned by Filipinos.”
Section 11 of the same Article says: “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; nor shall such franchise, certificate, or authorization be exclusive in character or for a longer period than fifty years.”
Colmenares said Cha-Cha proponents also seek the removal of the restriction on land ownership in the constitution and feared Filipino citizens may become “squatters” in their own homeland if this amendment pushes through.
The constitution prohibits foreigners from owning lands but they may lease, he added. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)