Phl to highlight economic reforms in summit

TOKYO – While the Marcos administration is expected to highlight reforms aimed at opening the Philippine economy in its engagement with investors attending the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit, the event is not the right venue to discuss moves to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said yesterday.

- ALEXIS ROMERO

Asked if the proposals seeking to make the Constitution more lenient to investors would be mentioned during the economic team’s meetings with businesses here, Pascual said the issue is an “internal matter” to the Philippines.

“I don’t think an international forum like what we have today will be the forum to talk about it,” Pascual told reporters.

Pressed if he is in favor of economic charter change, Pascual replied: “Personally I have expressed my support.”

Efforts to amend the Charter during previous administrations did not succeed. The attempts were greeted with suspicion, with some sectors claiming such amendments would lead to the lifting of the term limits of officials.