March 28, 2024

Bicol Express News

Your Voice ● Your News ● One Nation

Charter Change will benefit political dynasties — farmers

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines

Peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said the Charter Change and Constitutional Convention pushed by Congress will largely benefit political dynasties in the country, particularly allies of President Bongbong Marcos Jr. and VP Sara Duterte. 

Former SC Chief Justice Reynato Puno already voiced his concern that proxies of political dynasties might dominate the Constitutional Convention (ConCon). The 300-person ConCon will be elected by the voting public and appointed by the House Speaker and Senate President with the concurrence of the President. The government will spend at least P10-billion for the ConCon targeted from 2023 to 2024.

Out of the 11 bills filed at the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 will be most likely approved by Congress in its session today, March 6. 

Hindi kailangang amyendahan ang Konstitusyong 1987. Higit pa rito, ang panukalang ChaCha ay kontramagsasaka, makadayuhan, at kontra-Pilipino. Nakabanta nitong padaliin ang dayuhang pangangamkam ng lupa, palalain ang kawalang-lupa ng magsasakang Pilipino, palalimin ang dayuhang dominasyon sa agrikultura, at papanghinain ang lokal na produksyon.

Sa halip na amyendahan, higit na nararapat ang mahigpit na pagpapatupad sa mga makabayan at makamagsasakang probisyon ng Konstitusyon 1987. 

KMP maintained that ChaCha will make accessible some 14.2 million hectares of alienable and disposable lands to 100% foreign ownership. All in the name of foreign direct investments, our land and resources will be peddled for the use and plunder of foreign companies and businesses — mining, logging, ecotourism, agribusiness and other business operations that will worsen landgrabbing and land-use conversion. ChaCha can also lead to widespread land banking and land speculation.  

“Tataas ang mga presyo ng lupa. Gagawin nitong higit na hindi-abot kaya para sa magsasaka at karaniwang Pilipino ang pagkakaroon ng sariling lupa. Kasunod nito ang higit na agresibong ispekulasyon. Mag-uunahan ang mga ahente sa pangangamkam, pabarat na pagbili, pag-iipon (land banking), at palobong pagbebenta ng lupa. Mangangahulugan ito ng mas malawakang pagpapalayas sa mga magbubukid at katutubo, pagpapataw ng mas matataas na upa, pagkabangkarote ng mga magsasaka, pagtigil sa pagsasaka, pagpapalit-gamit ng lupa, at pagkalusaw sa mga kabuhayang agrikultural,” KMP said in its submitted position paper against ChaCha. 

The group said amending the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution will also further undermine local agriculture and production.