Rewriting our future

The latest call from local and foreign business leaders-delivered during the first public consultation of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments-should prompt the nation to confront a reality that some believe is too uncomfortable to handle: the Philippines cannot compete in a tightly knit global economy with outdated economic policies, fragile institutions, and political structures designed for a different era.

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Even as debates on Charter change intensify, the broader challenge is clear: modernization must be comprehensive, not piecemeal; bold, not cosmetic; strategic, not impulsive.

Congress bears the heaviest responsibility here. Restrictive economic provisions-rooted in fears of foreign domination rather than grounded in present global realities are undeniably barriers to growth, capital, and technology. But constitutional amendments alone are insufficient. Lawmakers must pair reform with equally urgent legislation to cut power costs, streamline logistics, rationalize incentives, protect intellectual property, and support manufacturing revival. Equally vital is strengthening the political system: institutionalizing political parties, regulating campaign finance, and reducing patronage driven politics. Modern economies thrive on predictability, coherence, and transparency-traits impossible without disciplined, program-oriented political parties.