The promised benefits of the Public Service Act have yet to be felt one year after its passage, and they will not likely be felt especially if the economic provisions of the Constitution will not be amended, Senator Robin Padilla said.
Padilla said that aside from the Public Service Act still lacking implementing rules and regulations, some groups are questioning its constitutionality.
“Paano natin ibebenta sa foreign investor na meron kaming na itong public utility pwede na kayong mag-invest dito? Eh one year na, wala pang IRR. Kinukwestyon pa ng maraming nagrereklamo at sinasabi nila na unconstitutional ito. Kung ikaw ba, investor ka, makita mo gusto ko mag-invest sa public utility na ‘yan at nabalitaan mo, teka may nagkukuwestyon, magbibigay ka ng pera?” the legislator said in an interview on DZRH.
The lawmaker has started working on the timetable to amend the economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution, aiming to bring it to the people in a plebiscite that will coincide with the barangay elections this October.
The chairperson of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes said he wants to speed up the process through a Constituent Assembly, and removing political provisions from the equation.
“Meron lang po tayong maiksing maiksi para makasabay tayo sa barangay election para makatipid tayo.”
“Dapat mag-committee hearing muna. Ini-schedule namin ito kaagad. Dapat mga June po (matapos ang hearings). Kasi sa Saligang Batas sinasabi po doon, mangyari po ang ating pag-ratify ang plebisito sabi po doon hindi aaga ng 60 days. Hindi rin sosobra ng 90 days. So meron lang po tayong maiksing maiksi para makasabay tayo sa barangay election para makatipid tayo,” the senator said in the radio interview on DZRH.
Padilla said he is aiming to have the amendments hurdle the bicameral level by August, and have the plebiscite coincide with the barangay elections on Oct. 30.
He added he does not agree to a constitutional convention that he said will be more expensive, and may open the door to tackling political provisions.
Also, he said he is not worried about the lack of support in the Senate, noting Senator Ronald dela Rosa had sought to amend the Charter’s economic provisions in the 18th Congress while Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is also seeking to do so in the 19th Congress.
Meanwhile, Padilla said he holds no hard feelings against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. when he said amending the Charter is not his priority, since it is not the President’s mandate to take steps to amend the Constitution.
“Pag titingnan po natin ang dati niyang interview noong siya po ay mambabatas, naniniwala siya noon na kailangan ay ng ating economic provisions sa Saligang Batas kailangan magbukas tayo sa foreign investment. Pero siyempre presidente siya, wala na yan sa mandato niya, tama lang po ‘yan,” he said.
“Pero pagdating sa Saligang Batas, I’m sorry Mr. President, wala po ito hindi nyo po ito pwede saklawan. Ang masusunod dito taumbayan.”
“At ‘yan naman pong pina-prayoridad niyang panukala nasa batas natin ‘yan, dapat gawin niya yan ang inaakala niya na dapat maisulong na batas na makatulong sa kanya para mapaganda ang bansa natin, dapat lang po. Pero pagdating sa Saligang Batas, I’m sorry Mr. President, wala po ito hindi nyo po ito pwede saklawan. Ang masusunod dito taumbayan. Sila magdedesisyon ito bang economic provision na sinusulong dito ay dapat bang tanggapin o hindi. Wala ito sa kapangyarihan ng Pangulo,” Padilla added.
He reiterated that the Constitution’s economic provision must be amended to allow more foreign investments – and in turn, generate jobs for Filipinos.
Padilla said the farmers of the Constitution also admitted they “rushed” their work, leading to some restrictive economic provisions.
“Galing tayo sa People Power, isarado natin itong foreign investment na ito, gawin nating para sa Pilipino lahat. Aba napakaganda. Tunay na napakaganda, noong panahon na ‘yan. 1987 po ‘yan, mga mahal kong kaibigan. 2023 na po. Ang tanong, meron bang nagawa ang paghihigpit na ‘yan para sa ating ekonomiya? Wala po. Kasi ang nakalagay doon 60-40,” he said.
Padilla added that at a time of globalization when the Philippines has participated in many international trade agreements, the restrictions in the Constitution may be a stumbling block to the entry of foreign investors.
“Hindi po tayo dapat nagtitiis. Wala po dapat ‘yan sa ating kalamnan na ang itong paghihirap na ito titiisin natin at tayo nagmamakaawa, uutang – palagi yan ang ating gobyerno tumatakbo na lang sa utang. Kaya sana mga mahal kong kababayan itong mga economic provision na ito maisagawa natin dahil ito ginawa ng kapitbahay natin sa Asya at sila masigabo na, itong pagbubukas natin ng Foreign Direct Investments,” he concluded.
