DEPUTY Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin on Thursday labeled as a “big lie” the claims of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives that amending the restrictive economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution will only worsen inflation in the country.

During the daily press briefing of the House of Representatives Thursday, Garin brushed aside allegations made by ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro that amendments to the Constitution contained in Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 will only result in increased inflation.

“Will economic Cha-cha cause an increase in inflation? Ang sagot ko po, pasensya na po sa mga nagsabi, pero isa po yang malaking kalokohan at kasinungalingan. Bakit? Tila binibigyan natin ng maling pag-intindi ang taong-bayan,” Garin said.

“Kaya kung mayroon man nanlilinlang sa atin na economic Cha-cha ay tataas ang inflation, pasensiya na po but it’s a big lie,” she added.

Garin said the primary objective of the economic amendments to the Constitution is precisely to encourage the influx of foreign direct investments, which will result in competition in the market.

“Napakasimple lang noon eh. Kapag may kompetisyon, bababa ang presyo. It’s as simple as that. Huwag na natig linlangin ang taong-bayan. Siguro iyong iba, hindi naintindihan anong meaning ng inflation. Ang ibig sabihin noon kapag tumaas iyon tataas ang mga bilihin, ganon iyon, tataas ang presyo,” she expressed.

“Paano tataas kung marami ang nagbebenta? Kapag may economic Cha-cha, ang ibig sabihin ay bukas at magkakaroon ng kompetisyon,” she asked.

Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, who were both present during the briefing, also weighed in on the topic.

“Kahit tayo po ‘yung normal na tao, kayang sagutin ito. Ang inflation is basically pagtaas ng pangunahing bilihin, bigas, ‘yung mga pangangailangan ng tao, lahat, gasolina. Nangyayari po ‘yan pagbagsak ang ekonomiya ng isang bansa,” Rillo said.

“Ngayon, sa economic Cha-cha na gagawin po natin, we are inviting foreign investors, we are telling investors to invest in our country and if they do that, we bring in more money. If we bring in more money, we give more jobs to the people, we get more taxes from these investors,” he explained.

“Ibig sabihin, may pera ang bansa natin. So, I beg to disagree with my colleagues in the Makabayan bloc dahil parang sinabi nilang 1+1 = 3. Kasi kaya nga tayo nagpapasok ng hanap-buhay sa bansa para umasenso ‘yung bansa natin.”

While Adiong admitted he was not an economist, he explained his understanding of the “purchasing power” of the people.

“I guess what I want to share to you is that since ang issue is purchasing power, it involves of course, you have to have livelihood, you have to have the income kasi kailangan ho ‘yan magkaroon po ng sapat na pera para po duon sa bilihin,” he said.

“Ang economic Cha-cha po talaga is to, aside from inviting foreign direct investors, ‘yung mga companies nila, this will also create employment in (several) areas. And that would create, spur development, not only development, potential income revenue to LGUs, to the national treasury, as well as create jobs for ordinary citizens,” he added.