House panel OKs reso on charter change via ConCon

During the hearing on Monday, the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments approved the still-unnumbered resolution of both houses with 16 affirmative votes, three negative votes and one abstention. (File Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – A resolution calling for a constitutional convention (ConCon) to amend the 1987 Constitution hurdled committee level at the House of Representatives.

During the hearing on Monday, the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments approved the still-unnumbered resolution of both houses with 16 affirmative votes, three negative votes and one abstention.

The ConCon will be composed of one delegate representing every legislative district in the country.

“Among the three modes of amending the Constitution, the calling for a constitutional convention to propose amendments to the Constitution to be composed of elected delegates from all legislative districts of the country would be the most transparent, exhaustive, democratic and least divisive means of implementing constitutional reforms,” the resolution read.

The resolution cited studies showing that particular economic provisions of the Constitution need to be revisited and recrafted so that the Philippines may become globally competitive and attuned to the changing times.

It proposes that the election of delegates from each legislative district to the constitutional convention would be set in October 2023, or simultaneously with the rescheduled barangay polls.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier said he does not consider making amendments to the 1987 Constitution as one of the priorities of his administration.

“It’s not a priority for me because maraming ibang kailangang gawin (there’s still so much to do)…There are so many other things that we need to do first that we can achieve kung makukuha naman natin ‘yung gusto (if we can get what we want) but within the way the Constitution is written,” Marcos said in a media interview.

However, he acknowledged the House of Representatives’ push for economic provisions in the 36-year-old Constitution to encourage investments that would stimulate economic activities, create job opportunities, reduce poverty and lower the prices of goods and services.

“The reason that it’s being talked about is because of the economic provisions. Gusto nga natin magkaroon ng investment kung minsan sagabal. Alam naman ninyo ‘yung mga issue diyan (We want to have more investments and sometimes there are hurdles. You know the issues there),” he said.

“But for me, lahat itong mga pinag-usapan kaya nating gawin na hindi palitan ang Saligang Batas (all of these being talked about, we can do without amending the Constitution),” he added.