A multi-sectoral alliance of clergy folk, studentry, indigenous people, workers, and transport groups hold a peaceful demonstration against Charter Change, PGH Oblation Plaza, along Taft Ave. in Manila on February 23, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN news 

MANILA (UPDATED) -- About three-fourths of Filipinos oppose charter change, according to a Pulse Asia survey released Wednesday.

Of 1,200 adults polled in early March, 74 percent said the constitution "should not be amended now or any other time". 

"This opinion is echoed by small to big majorities in the various areas and classes (69% to 82% and 58% to 80%, respectively)," Pulse Asia said.

It noted that opposition to charter change at the national level went up by 43 percentage points in March 2024 from the same month last year.

Meanwhile, 8 percent of respondents in the latest survey said the 1987 Constitution should be amended now. 

Another 8 percent are open to charter change under the next administration.

Six percent oppose constitutional amendments now but support it at some other time under the incumbent administration.

The remaining 4 percent are undecided on the matter. 

The same poll found that most Filipino adults are not in favor of 10 proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitutions, including the following:

- allowing foreigners to own schools or universities (68 percent)

- lifting the prohibition on foreign ownership of communications (71 percent)

- changing the presidential system of government to a parliamentary one (71 percent)

- allowing foreign individuals and companies to have foreign equity in mass media and advertising (71 percent) 

- changing the present unitary system of government to a federal system (71 percent)

- extending the terms of office for national and local elective officials (73 percent)

- shifting from a bicameral to a unicameral legislature (74 percent) 

- removing limits on shares of stocks in Philippine corporations that may be owned by foreign individuals and companies 

(78 percent)

- allowing foreign individuals and companies to own residential and industrial lands (81 percent)

- allowing foreign individuals and companies to utilize Philippine natural resources (86 percent)

Pulse Asia added that almost half of Filipino adults or 48 percent know little about the constitution.

"The amount of knowledge about the country’s charter is essentially unchanged between March 2023 and March 2024," it said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. maintains he is primarily seeking to amend the charter's economic provisions to allow more foreign investment, and ideally create more jobs.

He has said the political aspects, including term limits, should be tackled later.

Critics warn the effort could lead to the abolishment of term limits, with presidents currently allowed just one six-year stint in office.

Charter change being used for term extension, Duterte warns

The House of Representatives this month approved its version of economic charter change, the Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7.

The Senate's version of the resolution faces an "uphill climb" to get 18 votes and pass in the chamber, a lawmaker recently said.

House lawmakers who voted against economic charter change urged the government to drop its push for revisions to the 1987 Constitution after the latest Pulse Asia poll. 

"Dapat itigil na ang charter change at ituon ng gobyerno ang oras at resouces nito sa pressing problems ng mga Filipino," House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro said in a statement. 

(Government should stop its charter change push and instead pour its time and resources to the pressing problems of Filipinos.)

 "Pinapatunayan din nitong survey na hindi naman talaga nakikita ng mga kababayan natin na Chacha ang solusyon sa mataas na presyo ng mga bilihin, mababang sahod at kahirapan sa bansa," Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel said. 

(This survey also proves that our fellow Filipinos do not see Chach as the solution to the high prices of goods, low salary, and poverty in the country.)

Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the survey result is a “true eye opener.”

According to Zubiri, the poll firm's reflection of the people's stand on the charter change issue is the main reason why senators are carefully discussing Resolution of Both Houses number 6, which targets to amend some economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution.

"That’s why the Senate will still conduct hearings in Luzon, Visayas at Mindanao to truly see the Pulse of the people when it comes to amending the Constitution and what amendments should be done if ever," Zubiri said in a text statement.

He added: "This survey shows it is an unpopular move with almost 9 out of 10 Filipinos opposed to changing the Charter."

-- With reports from Agence France-Presse, Sherrie Ann Torres, and RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News