SEN. Nancy Binay sees no need for renewed efforts to tinker with the Constitution under the Marcos administration as the clamor to amend the Charter’s economic provisions were “already addressed.”
“If we are talking about amendments to the economic provisions in the Constitution, we have already addressed that in the last Congress with three vital economic liberalization laws that are intended to boost our economy and global competitiveness,” the senator pointed out.
She mentioned the Public Service Act (PSA), Retail Trade Liberalization Act and the Foreign Investments Act, pointing out, “Yung mga nai-introduce nating mga economic reforms ay tugon doon sa mga kakulangan sa probisyon sa Constitution, at sagot sa mga isyu ng foreign equity limitation sa utilities, power, telecoms, transport at aviation, infra, at iba pang sektor.”
The senator reminded that country is “still recovering from the impact of the pandemic,” but hastened to assure that “we are confident these reforms are sufficient to encourage investors and help revitalize our economy.”
At the same time, Binay stressed, “We all know that the Charter-change issue is too divisive when what is needed is unity in order to prepare for a possible global recession.”
She stressed the need to “focus on gut issues” such as prices of prime commodities directly attached to the stomach.
“Dapat doon tayo mag-focus sa mga isyu na direktang nakakabit sa sikmura,” Binay said, “Tulad ng presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin, mga problema sa agrikultura, tutukan natin ang health sector at bigyang pansin yung mga isyu sa marginalized sectors kagaya ng ating mga magsasaka’t mamamalakaya, at talagang mahaba-haba pa ang listahan ng mga problema natin.”
She added, “Kung priorities lang naman po ang pag-uusapan, ang usapin ng Charter-change eh medyo lihis sa kumakalam na sikmura—’di po kasama ang Con-ass sa ulam ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino.”