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lncoming Senate urged to junk Cha_ cha

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* CHA-CHA FRO,M A1
lncoming
While RBH 15 is unlikely to be
passed by the cunentSenate when
the 17th Congress reconyenes
from May 20 to June 7, chaner
change or Cha-cha is expected to
be pursued by incoming legisla-
tors,
IBON noted thar the Duterte
govemment had organized an
Inter-Agency Task Force on Fed-
eralism and Constitutional Re-
forms, which "can easily restart or
expedite deliberations under an
administration-dominated 18th
Congress."
"An administration win can
bring standing upper house sup-
pon for Cha-cha to 11 comprised
of incorning senators Bong Go,
Ronald dela Rosa, Pia Cayetano,
lmee Marcos, Francis Tolentino,
Sonny Angara, Aquilino pimentel
3rd, BongRevilla, plus incumbenr
senators Vicente Sotto 3rd, Juan
Miguel Zubiri, and Manny pac-
quiao," it added.
Ibon warned that aside from
establishing federalism and and
removing term limits for legisla,
to$, charter change would also
remove protections for Filipinos
by dropping "the nationalist
provisions of the Constitution
and liberalize the economy to
foreign investors."
It would also limit the govern-
.ment's role in protecting the phil-
ippine economy and allowforeign
ownership of natural resources,
educational institutions, mass
media and advertising, public
utilities, and strategic enterprises,
the think tank daimed.
"Cha-cha would remove provi-
sions on using the preferential
use of Filipino labor and limiting
professions to Filipinos. This will
worsen the country's jobs crisis,"
it added:
Proposed provisions would also
nanow the "government's role in
providing basic social services such
as health developmentand afford-
able housing by adhering to the
neoliberal policy of privatization, "
Ibon continued.
It also warned against other
proposals to open public utilities
to full foreign ownership, such
as proposed amendments to the
Public Services Act and revisions
to the Foreign lnvestments N€ga-
tive List.
BERNADETTE E, TAMAYO

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