Chacha Will Weaken Economy Further, Proponents May Be Guilty of Treachery- Maza

“Enabling foreign citizens to acquire 100% land ownership in the Philippine soil thru charter change is a blatant infringement of the Constitutional safeguards upholding national economy and patrimony and of the Constitutional rights of the Filipino citizens. Those who seek to do this may be guilty of treachery,” said Assistant Minority leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Liza Maza.

In opposition to the House Resolution 737 authored by Rep. Nograles, the Gabriela Solon yesterday filed House Resolution 974 expressing the sense of the House that they shall at all times uphold and protect the country’s national economic sovereignty and patrimony as enshrined in the Philippine Constitution and shall oppose any attempt to amend the charter.

“Foreign corporations are already enjoying enormous privileges to manipulate our country’s lands, forest and mineral resources because of the government’s liberalization policy especially in the mining sector. The proposal to amend the specific economic provisions protecting national patrimony will indubitably intensify the exploitation and destruction of big foreign corporations and investors on our lands and natural resources at the expense of our local and national economies,” Maza said.

“Our mining experiences have shown that our country has suffered more than it has gained from opening widely our lands and natural resources to mining activities owned and operated by foreign multinational corporations. We cannot stand to see another Marinduque and Rapu-rapu island tragedy all caused by massive operations of foreign multi-national corporations,” she added.

Maza said that charter change will only further weaken the Philippine economy in the midst of the global financial crisis and fluctuations in the international market economy. “What the government should do is to make the economy sovereign and stable by strengthening the national industries to be able to withstand external influences,” Maza concluded.