Is There a Need to Amend the Constitution?

By Robert T. Rivera
Former Deputy Press Secretary

"If this will be the argument of those who believe that there is no more 

need to amend the Constitution then, there seems to be no stable long term 

strategic plan and solutions to the problems 

besetting our country especially in the provinces . . . "

"X  x  x  while many are saying that the Constitution must be amended because of the uneven distribution of wealth and power between the national government and its constituents, others are arguing that there is no more need to amend the constitution.  The Constitution already contains sufficient provisions which grant autonomy to local government units  (LGUs), including the power to raise revenues.  x  x   x."

"True as it may seem. However, it appears that this is not the reality.  Whoever belongs to the political party aligned with the Executive has the power of the purse.  While it may be true that each local political unit has the municipal, provincial and regional development councils, allocation of funds from the national government where to source the money to finance the latter's development plans is still dependent on the politicians; and, finally to the Executive of the central government.  X x x.

"If this will be the argument of those who believe that there is no more need to amend the Constitution then, there seems to be no stable long term strategic plan and solutions to the problems besetting our country especially in the provinces. In reality, the central government cannot even solve the traffic problem in Metro Manila alone. We shall all be dependent to the leadership of whoever sits in Malacanang.

"Whenever there is a change in administration - membership in political party changes, government priority changes, priority over fund allocation changes, most often than not, even people's behavior changes.  Continuity of priority programs and projects already started by local government units under the previous administration get stalled.

"On January 17, 2018, by a vote of 293 of those present, the Congress of the Philippines approved concurrent Resolution No. 9 "to constitute the Congress of the Philippines as a constituent assembly for the purpose of proposing amendments to, or revision of, the 1987 Constitution."  In our country's history our Constitution was amended only during extra ordinary times, i.e., during Martial Law (the 1973 Constitution); and, during the People Power Revolution, (the 1987 Constitution).  The Congress of the Philippines as a constituent assembly already spoken.  This is a rare opportunity for the Filipinos to participate in the revision of the 1987 Constitution, to exercise their freedom to express their desire for self-governance, peacefully." 

Read the article in full at Pilipinas Ngayon Na Business and Lifestyle Magazine. June 2018 Issue. Volume XII.  In the said article, Robert T. Rivera  discussed in full the history of our Constitution and the events that unfold leading to its revision and amendments. 

Rice a Political Commodity . . .

By Robert T. Rivera

"There is a strong relationship between rice and politics because of its "importance as a staple food and calories source of the majority of the population, especially in the low income groups, as well as a source of employment and income to a wide range of people that comprise the demand and supply chain." Ponciano Intal, Jr. and Marissa C. Garcia concluded in the discussion paper series number 2005-13 they presented before the Philippine Institute for Development Studies.

The result of the study disclose that "the price of rice has been a significant determinant in election results since the 1950s, with the exception of 1998, where despite stable prices, the candidates from the incumbent administration failed to win the presidential election.  In addition, reliance by Philippine Government primarily on rice instruments to achieve its rice objectives and to protect farmer and consumer  interests has not resulted in any substantial improvements in rice production."

X  x  x . . . findings of Intal, Jr. and Garcia's study hold true until today.  There has been a relentless clamor in the past to disband the National Food Authority and let the price of rice be dictated by the market's law of supply and demand.  For the government to abdicate its police power to regulate rice importation, however, is risky.  By hoarding their rice stocks, unscrupulous rice traders can control the price of rice to create artificial shortage.  Thus, they can gain control to both local and imported rice stock to dictate its market price.  A peso increase for every kilo of rice can be translated to millions considering that more than half or all Filipinos eat rice as a staple food.

Different programs were adopted by the government subsidizing expenditures in almost all aspect of rice production in the hope of attaining rice sufficiency.  From providing credit, fertilizer, equipment, post harvest facilities, to land reform and others, government subsidy is there.   Yet, it would seem that the people's aspiration to free the farmers from the bondage of the soil is an impossible dream.  This only means that there is something wrong with the programs and policies adopted by the government to address the issue.  Does change in its approach to solve the problem should be made if it wanted to free the farmers from the bondage of the soil and ensure food security of our people?