House urges Senate to keep open mind on con-ass

Members of the House of Representatives yesterday urged their counterparts in the Senate to "keep an open mind" regarding the constituent assembly (con-ass) mode of amending the 1987 Constitution.

"We urge the senators to treat the con-ass resolution with the urgency it deserves so we can undertake the necessary Charter amendments next year and thereafter present these changes to the people in a plebiscite," Baguio City Rep. Mauricio Domogan said.

Domogan and Davao del Sur Rep. Douglas Cagas asked senators to give Concurrent Resolution 26 a second look "instead of just sitting on this or dismissing it out of hand." The resolution was approved by the House Tuesday night.

"We reiterate that con-ass is the best option the country has to amend the Constitution because constitutional convention (con-con) is impractical," Cagas said. "We simply cannot afford it at this time."

Malacañang welcomed the passage of Concurrent Resolution 29, saying in a statement issued by Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye that "we appreciate and welcome the action of the House of Representatives on the mode of effecting Charter amendments and we hope that this is the beginning of a broader consensus for the better future of the Philippines."

"The people wait for their leaders to deliver the final blow to poisoned politics and open the gates to the political, economic and social renaissance of our nation," Bunye added.

He reiterated the Palace’s call for national unity and urged the people "to devote our hearts and minds to this historic task to reshape the fundamental law in the interest of the Filipino of the 21st century."

The administration is pushing for a shift to a parliamentary federal system and the relaxation of restrictive economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution to remove what it calls a degenerated political system and increase the flow of investments into the country.

Previous similar resolutions passed by the House were junked by senators, who administration lawmakers said were afraid the Senate would be abolished if the country shifted political systems.

Bunye said there are reports that some senators may have softened their stand against Charter change via constituent assembly. "While government is gradually recovering from its fiscal woes, it cannot spare P8 billion to P9 billion for con-con," Cagas said. "We have to continue saving to rein in the budget deficit and provide more and better services to the people."

Electing delegates to the con-con alone would cost the government P2 billion, Cagas said, citing estimates given by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). "In con-ass, that amount is already enough to complete the whole Charter change process," he said.

"Why shell out more funds when there is an alternative that will allow government to save money, which could otherwise be used for other services?" he asked.

The House approved the concurrent resolution because "the Philippines needs not just a change in the hearts of men, but a change in the system" that will speed up policy-making and significantly reduce corruption in the bureaucracy.

Speaker Jose de Venecia said the country could match the prosperity enjoyed by its Asian neighbors, which operate under parliamentary systems of government. De Venecia cited as examples countries like China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and European nations that have benefited under parliamentary systems.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Constantino Jaraula said the House stands "on the cusp of exercising one of its constitutional tasks to amend the Charter and reform the political system." Jaraula is a Charter change proponent as well as the chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments.

"Let us not waste this golden opportunity to make our political and economic fundamentals relevant to the times," Jaraula said. "We urgently need structural reforms now. Let us discard the (presidential) system and go parliamentary."

Jaraula has called for the re-engineering of the government by replacing the presidential system and bicameral legislature — which he described as "inherently corrupt" — with a parliamentary system and a unicameral legislature.

Concurrent Resolution 26 limits constitutional amendments to the following: changes in the structure of government to a parliamentary system with a unicameral legislature; changes in basic economic provisions "to maximize the benefits for the welfare of the people without being shackled by unnecessary and impractical constraints and limitations"; and a mechanism for the orderly transition from the present form of government to the new parliamentary system.

"All we are asking is for the Senate to allow an open and free debate on the merits of our initiative," De Venecia said. "The country needs these reforms now." — Delon Porcalla, Paolo Romero