00:00 It was business as usual today at the House of Representatives, where Solons hashed over
00:04 proposed legislation to cut down on road rage incidents in one committee hearing and took
00:09 on higher wage proposal in another.
00:12 But the elephant in the room that overshadowed everything else was issues on the proposed
00:17 charter change on economic provisions, especially on the latest zinger by the former president
00:22 saying the real reason for this initiative is term limit extension that drew sharp response
00:28 from a few Solons that our Melales Morris dwells on in this report.
00:35 There is a motion to approve resolution of both houses number seven on second reading.
00:43 All those in favor, please say aye.
00:46 All those against say nay.
00:49 The ayes have it.
00:52 Resolution of both houses number seven is hereby approved on second reading.
00:56 Reading via Viva Voce or live voice vote, the House of Representatives has approved
01:01 on second reading resolution of both houses number seven, which seeks to ease constitutional
01:06 restrictions on foreign ownership of public utilities, education and advertising in the
01:11 country.
01:12 Earlier, several opposition lawmakers tries to voice out their dissent on the measure,
01:17 but the sponsors successfully made a rejoinder.
01:19 We have seen that because of our constitutional provision, we have limited and we have fewer
01:28 direct investments in our country compared to our peers in the ASEAN.
01:34 Certainly, this will be a very first step to be able to go forward to economic recovery
01:44 for the best interest of the entire Filipino people.
01:47 Yesterday, in a prayer rally, former President Rodrigo Duterte accused the administration
01:52 of pushing for charter change just to have term extension.
01:56 But the lawmakers responded.
01:58 We made a statement that this is purely economic nonsense.
02:04 Even if you watch the debates in the Senate, the House, there is nothing being discussed
02:10 about politics.
02:13 He kind of hit the parliamentary form of government.
02:16 That's not on the table.
02:18 That's not on the table.
02:19 It's strictly economic.
02:21 But if you want to even discuss that, we have to look into the accomplishment itself of
02:27 the Duterte administration, and that is the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
02:33 The Bangsamoro Organic Law is actually supposed to be a template for the federal form of government.
02:39 So it's a little bit of an oxymoron for our dear former president to attack the parliamentary
02:45 form of government, and then in his time, in his administration, it is one of his greatest
02:51 accomplishments for the Mindanao region.
02:54 Meanwhile, apart from RBH 7, the House also approved on second reading House Bill Number
02:59 9710, revoking the legislative franchise granted to Suarez Media Corporation operating under
03:05 the business name Sunshine Media Network International, or SMNI.
03:10 SMNI, being a member of KBP, was mandated to abide by the Broadcaster's Code of the
03:16 Philippines.
03:17 However, as the committee hearing progressed, SMNI withdrew its membership, a clear manifestation
03:24 that it did not want to be covered by the set of standards and ethics of broadcasting.
03:31 During the course of six hearings spanning five months, the committee also discovered
03:38 that SMNI committed grave violations of the terms of franchise, therefore warranting its
03:47 revocation.
03:48 Melales Moras from the National TV Network for a new and better Republic.
