Albay Rep. Joey Salceda
MANILA—Taking into account the recommendations made by the administration’s Inter-Agency Task Force on Federalism and Constitutional Reform, a lawmaker on Tuesday filed a resolution of both Houses proposing amendments to the 1987 Constitution.
In filing House Resolution of Both Houses No. 5, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said the proposed political and economic reforms to the Charter submitted by the task force would make the country’s economy “truly inclusive” and the governmental structure “genuinely people-centered".
The bill proposes a five-year term of office for local officials and members of the House of Representatives.
It shall require the President and the Vice President to be elected as a tandem, which means that a vote for the presidential candidate shall be counted as a vote for his/her vice presidential candidate.
An also notable Charter change (Cha-cha) proposal by the inter-agency body is the fiscal strengthening of the local government units (LGUs), which shall have a just share, as determined by the law on the basis of their financial needs, organizational capacities, and resources, in all national taxes.
It seeks to constitutionalize the Mandanas ruling which will increase the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) given to LGUs and empower Regional Development Councils composed of local government officials and representatives from non-governmental organizations for purposes of administrative decentralization.
It also proposes to lift restrictions on foreign investments by inserting the phrase unless otherwise provided for by law.
Other proposals of the administration’s Cha-cha task force are provisions against political dynasties and turncoats, as well as a state subsidy for political parties.
The House committee on constitutional amendments is set to vote on Wednesday on the constitutional amendment proposals.
“We will decide what recommendations of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Constitutional Reform we will include in our report to Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and the plenary,” Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, committee chairman, said.
Rodriguez said his committee is treating the task force’s recommendations as to the administration’s Cha-cha proposals because it was President Duterte who created the group.
He said the group held nationwide consultations before submitting its recommendations to his committee.
Rodriguez said many of the group’s proposals complement the Cha-cha suggestions contained in his committee’s initial report.
“We are one in suggesting the lifting of economic restrictions so the country could attract more foreign investors. More foreign investments will translate into more jobs and income for our people,” Rodriguez said. (PNA)
