Is EU Behind Charter Change Move In the Philippines?

Both the DFA and the EU Ambassador to the Philippines were shock to learn about a report saying that the EU and the World Trade Organization (WTO) were pushing for Charter change in the country.

Merlin Magallona, Law Dean of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law, in a letter to the DFA, said that EU and WTO were pushing for the Charter change here. He said that the EU in particular, requested the Philippine government to lift its restrictions on foreigners owning lands and practicing their profession in the country.

The DFA, through its spokesperson Ed Malaya, denied the allegation saying there has been no such request made by the EU. Malaya charged Magallona’s letter as erroneous.

Alistair Mac Donald, EU Ambassador to the Philippines was also shock about the Magallona’s letter saying that the EU has not sent a letter to the Philippine government to request for a Charter change.

Magallona may have erroneously referred to what  Peter Beckingham, UK Ambassador to the Philippineshad said about British investments here during the launching of Center for Trade and Investment Policy (PLACE) which took place sometime last week.

In this event, Beckingham revealed plans by British investors to increase their investments in the country. For this purpose, Beckingham intimated that the Philippines should liberalize more sectors to foreign ownership to inspire more foreign investments in the Philippines.

Beckinham specifically said “that’s (land ownership) an economic provision of the (Philippine) Constitution which we hope after the elections would be changed or removed”.

But before Beckingham is misunderstood, he said that such changes in the fundamental law should take place after the elections; a view shared by many in the Philippine Senate today.