Mga eksperto, sumalang sa pagdinig ng Senado sa pag-amyenda sa Konstitusyon
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 The Senate also agreed to the issue of the constitutional amendment to the economic provisions of the Constitution,
00:07 some experts in business and law.
00:10 This is what Daniel Manalastas reported.
00:12 In the continuation of the hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments,
00:18 as well as the constitutional amendment to some economic provisions in the League of Law,
00:23 the Senate agreed to discuss whether the provision will be allowed to be extended for public utilities
00:28 so that foreigners can enter.
00:30 Legal experts and various business groups came to the hearing.
00:34 If some business groups will ask,
00:36 they support the expansion of restrictions on foreign direct investment,
00:41 even though they understand that the government needs to take care of the interests of the people.
00:47 The removal of economic restrictions would facilitate increased foreign direct investment
00:53 in sectors where such investment is currently restricted.
00:56 The change of time is fast between the joint foreign chambers.
01:00 For example, if 30 years ago, there was no online education,
01:05 there was no online advertising,
01:07 it has changed now.
01:09 But they are still in the process of amending the Constitution.
01:11 How do you now consider this issue on amending the Constitution
01:15 with regards to our foreign investors being a little bit hesitant
01:21 because of the issues surrounding this now?
01:23 Well, I have to be honest.
01:25 We got some calls from some of our members
01:29 following the news and the political debate about
01:33 how this might unfold or in which direction it could actually move further.
01:39 So there is some uncertainty out there.
01:41 Currently, there are some laws for the expansion of the economy for the remote areas,
01:45 like the Public Service Act.
01:47 But experts say that this is not enough.
01:51 The PSA has not necessarily solved the problem.
01:53 After removing electricity generation from the 60-40 rule through PSA,
01:57 which is still subject to court deliberations,
02:01 existing legislation tries to manage this,
02:03 but causes slower take-up of rooftop solar due to the higher associated costs.
02:07 Some also think that the economic provisions in the Philippines are too restrictive
02:12 compared to the neighboring countries.
02:14 Looking at the countries Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam,
02:20 Philippines actually comes out as the most restrictive.
02:23 The former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio
02:27 thinks that the implementation of the rule of law
02:30 unless otherwise provided by law
02:32 will help resolve the court's and PSA's petitions.
02:36 I'm in favor of the amendment
02:39 that we include in the economic provisions
02:45 the phrase "unless otherwise provided by law,"
02:48 but I would like to add "subject to reciprocity,"
02:51 just like in the PSA, amended PSA.
02:55 Now, on the issue in the Supreme Court,
02:58 I think this would help.
03:01 If you amend the provision now to add "unless otherwise provided by law,"
03:05 then that will settle the issue.
03:08 Senator Sani Angara does not want the Senate to fail in the Chacha,
03:13 the important thing is that there are records.
03:17 I think it's good to go through the exercise
03:20 because this is the first time we're discussing this in detail.
03:23 We always focus on the political provision,
03:30 whether there should be a parliamentary system.
03:33 When Senator Pangilinan, the Chairperson of the Committee of Amendments,
03:38 was last in the hearing, we were discussing federalism.
03:40 Now, this is different.
03:41 So, for me, this is good for our countrymen
03:44 because they can hear the arguments,
03:46 they can think about it, and I hope they can debate among themselves.
03:50 A subcommittee will be formed not just for public utilities.
03:55 Daniel Maranastas for Pambansang TV in Bagong, Philippines.
03:59 I'm going to go and play the peanuts.