Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 4) — The latest Ulat ng Bayan survey by Pulse Asia said about 45% of Filipinos see no need to change the Constitution now, with some saying it should not be changed at all.
\”While 45% of Filipino adults are against proposals to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution now, 41% have a contrary opinion on the matter. In particular, 31% of Filipino adults do not see the need for charter change now nor at any other time in the future while 14% are against charter change now but are open to it sometime in the future. The rest of the country’ s adult population (14%) is ambivalent on the matter,\” the survey said.
There was a decrease from those who answered “no” in the latest poll from a similar survey done in September 2022, where 56% of respondents said no amendments should be done.
In September, 31% said changes should be made, while only 13% said they didn’t know.
The March 2023 nationwide survey on charter change was released Tuesday. The survey was conducted from March 15 to 19 with 1,200 adults as respondents.
The pollster also asked respondents if they were aware there were proposals to change the Constitution, and 47% said they knew about it even before the survey.
Respondents from the National Capital Region had the highest number of affirmative answers, followed by Mindanao, balance Luzon (areas in Luzon excluding NCR), and Visayas.
Meanwhile, 53% said they only became aware of the proposals during the survey.
Majority of those polled (79%) said they knew little or had no knowledge of the Constitution.
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Most of those polled also felt strongly against seven proposed amendments:
– lifting the prohibition on foreign ownership of communications companies (53%)
– lifting the prohibition on foreign ownership of utilities like electricity (55%)
– extending the terms of office of national and local elective officials (56%)
– allowing foreign individuals and companies equal ownership in mass media and advertising (57%)
– removing limits on shares of stocks in Philippine corporations that may be owned by foreign individuals and companies (67%)
– allowing foreign individuals and companies to own residential and industrial lands (72%)
– allowing foreign individuals and companies to utilize Philippine national resources (76%)
At least 11 bills and resolutions relating to charter change were filed in the 19th Congress. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said that changes to the Constitution were not among his priorities.
Both houses of Congress have begun committee hearings on constitutional amendment proposals.
