House panel okays P2-billion allocation for holding constitutional convention in 2010

MANILA, Philippines - A committee of the House of Representatives has approved a P2-billion allocation for the holding of a constitutional convention (con-con) at the same time with the holding of barangay elections in October 2010.

The House committee on constitutional amendments led by La Union Rep. Victor Ortega voted 5-2 in favor of the proposal of Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao to allocate P2 billion to finance the holding of a con-con that will be composed of 219 congressional delegates.

Ortega said the con-con proposal would be submitted to the House appropriations committee led by Quirino Rep. Junie Cua for approval.

He said the P2-billion budgetary requirement is part of the implementing guidelines of the consolidated measure that provides for the election of con-con delegates simultaneously with the barangay elections on Oct. 25, 2010.

Out of the P2-billion allocation, P884.1 million would be earmarked for personnel services for delegates and their staff members; P174.6 million for secretariat officials’ and employees’ salaries and benefits.

Around P617.5 million will be utilized for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), a separate P108.6 million for capital outlay, and P300 million for contingency fund.

Ortega said the proposal provides that each delegate will receive P2,000 per diem allowance per attendance in the five-day weekly plenary sessions and will be given five staff members each, with a chief of staff, legal counsel, researcher, private secretary, legislative staff assistant, and a utilityman or messenger.

The elected con-con delegates can start deliberations on the third Monday of November 2010 that would be presided over by the Chief Justice, Ortega said.

Ortega said the committee has estimated the rentals of the con-con would run to at least P25 million a year, based on the P96,000 daily rental rate of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) as proposed.

He said the amount could still vary depending on the venue that would be selected for the holding of the con-con.

Ortega said the House plenary could be used on Thursdays and Fridays since there are no congressional sessions during those days.

Ortega noted administration and opposition lawmakers have agreed on con-con as the only mode to introduce amendments in the Constitution.

Since there are already three pending con-con measures in the Senate, Ortega believes that con-con, as the mode for charter change, “will be the most acceptable in the Senate.”

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier opposed proposals to electing con-con delegates during the general elections next year, saying it would only confuse the voters.