Youth organizations launched last February 21 the Movement Against Charter Change (MATCHA) Youth Alliance at the Commission on Human Rights, declaring their opposition to the people's initiative charter change (cha-cha) being pushed by a Marcos administration-affiliated group.
The alliance was formed to advocate for genuine solutions to the economic and education issues that cha-cha proponents claim can only be resolved through constitutional reform. Thus, MATCHA aims to inform the public of the perils of cha-cha and offer alternatives via its network of allied organizations.
“Despite propaganda framing the 1987 Constitution as ‘outdated,’ the [alliance] believes that fake solutions like charter change ... and other bogus reforms are the main rotting aspects of our outdated traditional politics,” read the alliance’s press release.
The proposed cha-cha argues that the limit on foreign ownership set by the 1987 Constitution is to blame for the country’s economic shortcomings and poor quality of education. Currently, all corporations in the Philippines must be at least 60-percent Filipino-owned, while international schools are permitted only if established by religious groups or for foreign diplomatic personnel or foreign temporary residents.
But the Philippines is already one of the most open countries to foreign investment in the region, economic think tank IBON Foundation said in its analysis, adding that economic growth will not hasten upon the lifting of the remaining restrictions.
Only power transmission and distribution, agriculture, forestry, and media do not allow up to 100-percent foreign equity among the industries IBON listed.
Cha-cha proponents seek to combine the Senate and the vastly larger House of Representatives into one body and allow constitutional amendments upon a three-fourths vote of its members. This will enable Congress to amend the charter that will allow up to 100-percent foreign ownership of land, industries, public utilities, schools, and media among others.
"Hindi natin papayagan na maging banyaga tayo sa sarili nating bayan. Sa ganitong pag-sell out ng economy natin, puro foreign investors na lang ang pinakikinggan," said Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel during the launch.
The alliance also countered the supposed benefits of foreign-administered education. Amid crises of insufficient funding and threats to academic freedom, the administration should instead focus on addressing those issues head-on, said UP Student Regent Iya Trinidad.
“Aming hamon sa Marcos administration na kung nais nilang tugunan ang krisis sa edukasyon ay lumubog sila sa mga estudyante, kawani, at mga guro ng iba't ibang unibersidad at pamantasan nang malaman nilang di talaga charter change ang solusyon dito,” said Trinidad.
Other sectors have also taken up the call to oppose cha-cha. UP sectoral regents and organizations launched the UP Against Charter Change (UPACC) Coalition on Saturday, forwarding similar objections to 100-percent foreign ownership.
Prior to this, the sectoral regents had already released a joint statement calling to junk the Marcos administration’s cha-cha on February 2.
UPACC plans to hold education drives and “bawi-pirma” campaigns. MATCHA, on the other hand, will also conduct campaign strategies through fora, statements, and on-the-ground efforts.
“The cha-cha must be engaged by Filipino youth since the overarching changes it can entail will not only affect the entire country but also Filipinos in future generations to come, especially those from marginalized classes and sectors,” MATCHA said in a statement. ●
