HOUSE Committee on Constitutional Amendments head Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez announced he is promoting the amendment to the Constitution.
Rodriguez added that the proposal was read in the House plenary yesterday.
Rodriguez filed House Resolution No. 12 to amend some economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution.
In a statement, he wanted to have a Charter Change through the Constitutional Convention.
“Particular economic provisions need to be revisited and redrafted so that the Philippines may become globally competitive and attuned to the changing times,” said Rodriguez as suggested by various business groups.
He said these organizations feel that economic reform “is now long overdue.”
“Political reforms may now as well be required to be incorporated in our Constitution,” he said.
The assumption of the new government counteracts any suspicion that the clamor for constitutional reform promotes vested interests and the personal ambitions of elective officials in the guise of constitutional amendments, according to Rodriguez.
Rodriguez also pointed out that a constitutional convention (con-con) “would be the most democratic and least divisive” mode of proposing Charter changes.
Under the resolution, the convention would be composed of delegates elected from legislative districts. Each district would elect one delegate.
“Candidates would have the same qualifications as members of the House of Representatives,” he said.
Their election would be conducted on the last Monday of October 2023 simultaneously with the barangay elections.
Political parties or groups would be prohibited from supporting any con-con candidate. No candidate shall allow himself to represent any political party or organization.
Public officers, whether elective or appointive, would be considered automatically resigned if they run for the convention.
A convention delegate would not be allowed to run in the first local and national election to be held after the ratification of the proposed Charter changes.
The resolution sets the convening of the convention for Jan. 8, 2024. It fixes a deadline of six months, up to June 30, 2024, for the body to finish its job and submit a report to the President, Congress, and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The Comelec shall conduct a plebiscite for the ratification of the proposed amendments within 60 days to 90 days after the submission of the con-con report.
Rodriguez also explained that Con-con delegates would not receive a salary. However, they would be given a P10,000 per diem for every day of actual attendance at the convention or any of its committees. Additionally, they would be entitled to travel expenses.
They would enjoy parliamentary immunity like lawmakers.
All government agencies, including the Senate and the House, would be mandated to extend administrative and technical assistance to the convention.
The Senate president and the Speaker would preside in the con-con’s initial session until it elects its officers.
