This is because it is “cheaper and faster” than a Con-Con.
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He said that the presidential system, which was imposed by the country’s colonizers, “has contributed to the cycles of inter-generational conflict, hampered economic growth and stunted development”.
Mr. Alvarez cited the costs of calling a constitutional convention or “con-con” – P7 billion to P8 billion, by his estimate.
President Duterte has abandoned his proposal to amend the Constitution to shift to federal system of government through an elected constitutional convention (con-con) in favor of Congress itself doing Charter change (Cha-cha).
Under Con-Ass, both the Senate and the House of Representatives will be convened for the purposes of changing the Charter while the Con-Con calls for election of delegates to the convention which reportedly would requires up to Php7 billion budget.
“Con-Con would be most ideal, but we have budgetary constraints”, Alvarez elaborated.
The other mode of amending the Constitution is through a people’s initiative, in which a petition for constitutional amendments is filed and presented to the public for their signatures.
“No amendment under this section shall be authorized within five years following the ratification of this Constitution nor oftener than once every five years thereafter”, the provision added.
“He was initially suggesting the convening of a con-con, but later realized that a convention would be expensive”, he said.
Fariñas also pointed out that the 1987 Constitution mandates that constitutional amendments will only be finalized after a majority of registered voters approve them in a plebiscite.
He said the House of Representatives should be expected to pass by December the legislative measure that would convene Congress into a Con-Ass.
“Makabayan is open to charter change if it will empower the poor, the oppressed and national minorities, enshrine national industrialization and genuine agrarian reform, and promote equitable distribution of wealth, through a mode acceptable to the people – but certainly not through constituent assembly”, they added. “[By] 2022, we will elect on the basis of the new constitution”, Mr. Alvarez said.
“We should be able to come up with the amendments in one year so we can submit these to the people in a plebiscite that could be held simultaneously with the mid-term elections in 2019”, he said. After the elections, we will have a transition period. Alvarez was introduced by MAP president Perry L. Pe.
Alvarez said that the states to be created under a federal government would have real autonomy to chart their respective courses, with the goal of fostering lasting peace and achieving economic growth.
“Through federalism, by granting more and specific powers to the state governments, the red tape that leads all the way to Manila will be cut, thus reducing delays and uncertainties inimical to businesses”, said Mr. Alvarez.
“The shift to federalism will address and eventually end historical injustices that have caused human sufferings and destruction of properties”, he added.
He said the timetable for Cha-cha is one-year.
Reacting to Alvarez’s announcement, the Makabayan bloc of lawmakers expressed objection to Con-Ass, saying it will not be acceptable to the people.
The bloc also said it would oppose moves by political families to try to ease the restrictive provisions against foreign ownership, the anti-political dynasty clause and the term limits of elected officials.
The House Makabayan bloc objected the Constituent Assembly as well, urging Alvarez to reconsider his stance on it.
The bloc is composed of militant representatives from the party-list groups Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Kabataan, Act Teachers and Anakpawis.
He is recommending a federal-presidential system, with the retention of the Senate and the House of Representatives but with senators elected no longer at large or nationwide but by federal states.
“They will fail because there is no public clamor for the amendment”, Roque said.
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Villarin was referring to the 251 members of the House supermajority.
