By Filane Mikee Cervantes | Philippine News Agency
The House of Representatives met its self-imposed deadline to pass on second reading the resolution proposing certain economic amendments to the 1987 Constitution on Wednesday.
During the plenary session, the chamber approved through voice voting Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7, which seeks to lift foreign equity limits on education, public utilities, and advertising in the 1987 Constitution.
Under RBH7, the proposed changes are on the grant of legislative franchises to and ownership (60-40) of public utilities in Article Xll, ownership of basic educational facilities (60-40) in Article XlV, and ownership of advertising firms (70-30) in Article XVl.
The suggested principal amendments are the insertion of the phrase, “unless otherwise provided by law,” which would empower Congress to lift or relax present economic restrictions in the nation’s basic law, and the addition of the qualifier “basic” in Article XIV.
It also restates the provision of the Constitution that Congress may propose amendments “upon a vote of three-fourths of all its members.”
RBH No. 7 replicates RBH No. 6, introduced by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senators Loren Legarda and Juan Edgardo Angara.
The third and final reading approval of RBH 7 is expected next week, or before Congress goes into Holy Week recess.
