Allowing foreign capital, not selling “patrimony”

CONTRARY to what charter change (chacha) oppositors are stamping into the minds of the people, allowing foreign ventures into the country is not simply selling the nation's patrimony. Thus said Atty. Romela Bengson, executive secretary of the defunct Consultative Commission (Concom) who personally came to Bohol as part of the Advocacy Commission (ADCOM) team for the Provincial Constitutional Reforms Summit at the Bohol Cultural Center , May 4.

The summit was attended by no less than Adcomm Oscar Lambino, David Tirol, Bohol 's three representatives, local officials led by Gov. Erico Aumentado and Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera. A crowd estimated to be around 2000 filled the venue where two LCD screens simultaneously broadcast the proceedings. Instead of keeping a restrictive stand on the country's resources, Concom proposed to allow foreign companies and individuals equal rights in the utilization of natural resources, ownership of industrial commercial and residential lands, operation of public utilities, ownership of educational institutions, mass media and advertising.

Atty. Bengson explained that the Concom wants the foreign investors to reside here and the government grants them security of stay, so they may build their houses here. But it has to be done in accordance with the laws of the Philippines , stressed Bengson who talked Illongo and connected with the estimated 2000 Boholanos gathered at the summit. She was quick to add however that agricultural lands are not offered for foreign investments. This doused cold water into the staunch stand peddled by radical farmer organizations here. Farmer groups have feared that the proposal to open investments for foreign capital would finally deprive and disperse the farmers from their lands.

Pro-chacha government authorities have accused oppositors and their supporters of sowing disinformation muddling the chacha plan. The issue however was addressed when the Concom morphed into the Adcom to run and unroll the information awareness and consultations in the provinces to assure the people of informed decisions.

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