The opposition of six big business groups led by the Makati Business Club to charter change echoes the position of independent-minded members of the House of Representatives against a Constitutional Convention to amend the 1987 Constitution.
The common grounds are:
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Charter change by Con-Con or any other mode is not timely as the government has to address more pressing economic problems on poverty, inflation, and food security;
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A political debate on amending the Constitution will be disruptive of the country’s economic recovery momentum and divisive at a time when national unity must be forged;
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The multi-billion peso cost of a constitutional convention can be better channeled to pro-people agenda and reforms; and
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The recent statutes liberalizing the entry of foreign investments into the country should first be fully implemented without trifling with the Constitution.
EDCEL C. LAGMAN