• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Stressing that the present term limits of all elected officials is too short, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson wants it to be a four-year, two term limit, should amendments to the Philippine 1987 Constitution push through.
Lacson said a four-year term will give elected officials two solid terms in the delivery of services to their constituents.
He also disclosed yesterday that the best time to discuss, whether to proceed or not, discussions on amendments to the Philippine 1987 Constitution, “is now.”
“It is best now, because after the third year of elected officials, there will not be enough time,” Lacson said.
On February 20, the House constitutional amendments committee approved a resolution calling for a constitutional convention (ConCon) to either amend or revise the 1987 Constitution.
Lacson said the only issue for ConCon is the expense, which will cost a lot of money, as he cited the suspension of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on December last year was because of financial constraints.
“I don’t know how they will manage it,” the governor said.
On the other hand, there is an idea to elect delegates to the ConCon to amend the constitution, Lacson also said.
But what is important is to choose the right people, because “reality dictates that the choice of delegates will also be somehow political,” as district representatives would want also to support candidates, the governor further said.
“What is also important is to have a good set of candidates in the ConCon,” Lacson stressed.
As to amending the economic provisions of the constitution, Lacson cited a study, in other countries that “foreign investment is higher if foreign investors actually own 100 percent or full ownership.”
Under the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, the maximum ownership of foreigners in a corporation in the country, is up to 40 percent.
Lacson said that all presidents who go abroad, come home with “very rosy pictures, most specifically foreign pledges,” which would already be in the trillions of pesos.
He also noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has been getting good reception as far as pledges are concerned. “We may have more investors, if we amend that part of the constitution,” Lacson said.*
