Under the 1987 Constitution, 60% of a public utility must be owned by

Filipinos. However, the proposed law (Senate Bill 2094) aims to revise the
definition of “public utilities" and distinguish it from “public services”. This
allows those classified as public services, including previously labeled public
utilities like telecommunications, transportation, power generation, petroleum,
and wireless communications, will be exempt from the constitutional
requirement of 60% Filipino ownership.

Even if the readings on economic charter change that is focused on foreign

ownership is still on going, l egislators still makes way for a faster way on
legalizing foreign investors. President Rodrigo Duterte certified Senate Bill No.
2094 as urgent in April, citing the need to aid economic recovery amid the
pandemic and Senator Poe also states that "The main purpose of this
measure is to provide consumers with choices and I believe that by opening
our economy to a diverse set of investors, we could provide our fellow
Filipinos with more and better choices" . With these activities in the congress
the chances of the economic charter change being passed is growing strong
along with the later legislation to legalize full ownership of foreign investors.
(Tamayo,2021)

https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/12/15/news/senate-passes-bill-allowing-more-foreign-investors-to-ph/182606 8

Tamayo, B.2021. Senate passes bill allowing more foreign investors to PH

All four Philippine Constitutions have acknowledged free expression and

press freedom, although this has not always ensured effective protection of
these rights, notably during the Marcos era. Both have always been part of
the Filipinos’ long struggle for freedom and are part of the Philippine
revolutionary tradition.The People Power Constitution guarantees in Article III
– Bill of Rights – freedom of expression (Section 4), privacy (Section 3) and
the right to information (Section 7). 23 Section 4 of Article III reads as follows:
No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of
the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the
government for redress of grievances.The freedom of press in the Philippines
have a very small possibility of curtailment as long as it stays as democratic
state. The only danger to the freedom of speech of the Filipinos is the rise of a
certain tyranny because it is always followed by censorship. Yet, Philippines
has a very strong protection of the press as stated in the 1987 constitution,
this prevents policies that may constraint freedom in being created.

Roderick MacArthur,2005. Freedom of expression and media in the

Philippines
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