The House Committee on Constitutional Amendments is opening deliberations once again on Charter reform when Congress resumes regular session on July 27, the same day that President Rodrigo Duterte will deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address.
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chair of the said committee, said they are ready to have discussions on proposals from local government officials to amend the 1987 Constitution within the first two weeks of session.
The proposals came from the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, an alliance of mayors mostly composed of Duterte administration allies.
“I will call a virtual meeting of our committee possibly within the first two weeks of our session to tackle the proposals of our 1,489 town mayors and other pending measures,” Rodriguez said.
Under their proposed Mandanas Ruling of the Supreme Court in the Constitution, regions will get their share from all national taxes, apart from internal revenue allotments. This will supposedly help local government units address the pandemic better and “strengthen local autonomy” in the country, Rodriguez said.
The LMP also sought to lift restrictions on foreign investment in industries currently limited to Filipinos.
“Especially this time when we need more foreign investments and to invite more foreign businesses relocating from China, in order to provide much needed jobs for our people, this amendment is worth considering,” he said.
