Philippine policies need to evolve, inspire global competition – lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines must grow out of its infamous tag as the laggard of Southeast Asia by keeping up with the demands and challenges of the digital times and “evolve” to allow itself to “compete globally,” a senior administration legislator said.

One way of getting started, according to Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo, is to amend the 1987 Constitution by way of changing and upgrading its prohibitive and restrictive economic policies.

“While our vigilance to protect and prioritize the Filipino citizens remain, our policies must evolve in order for the country to continually progress and remain competitive globally,” said Salo, who heads the House committee on overseas workers affairs.

A lawyer by profession, Salo is among legislators who authored and endorsed the convening of a constitutional convention (Con-con), as stated in his House Bill 6920.

In it, he observed that “some provisions (in the Charter) have become less responsive to our people’s needs.”

“It has been 36 years since the adoption of our Constitution, and crucial developments in our society and in the global arena over the years and the present social and economic realities have rendered some parts of it less responsive to our people’s needs,” Salo said.

“These restrictions have been found to hamper economic growth, dilute the competitiveness among the country’s industries, and ultimately stunt national development over the years,” he said.

He also noted that the restrictions on foreign ownership are designed to prioritize Filipino citizens, but that “it limits the country’s capability to generate the requisite capital to boost our economy and develop our natural resources.”

“It is high time to liberalize such restrictions to encourage the free flow of capital into the country and enhance its global competitiveness,” he said.

Other House members who backed the Con-con route were Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments that is now holding marathon hearings, and Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep LRay Villafuerte.

Last September, Villafuerte filed House Bill 4926 (Constitutional Convention Act), which aims to introduce “economic and political reforms” in the fundamental law of the land, by way of Con-con this year.