House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez of Davao del Norte said he wants each state to give 25 percent of its income as contribution to the national government (NG) under the proposed federal form of government.
In an interview, Alvarez said that in the current presidential form of government, all funds are centralized in Manila and provinces need to remit their income to the National Treasury.
In the presidential setup, the Speaker said the NG is the one that distributes and allocates funds for each province. “If you will ask me, I want 75-25 [revenue-sharing scheme] under the federal government,” he said. Alvarez said the proposed federal government for the country will create 11 to 12 federal states, which could also have their own tax and criminal laws.
In the federal system, Alvarez added that a state will no longer remit its income to the national government, but each state is required to give part of its income as a contribution to the national government.
“However, the constituent assembly [con-ass] needs to discuss the issue of the income. For me, states should share parts of their income to national government as contribution, as defense, foreign policy, national police and monetary policies are still under the national government in the federal new system,” he said.
“Also, the unitary form of government is easier to control because everything, including income distribution, will be under the President. At present, all the income of the provinces under this type of government will go to the central government. Every centavo goes to the National Treasury,” Alvarez added.
The Speaker has said President Duterte now wants Congress to constitute itself into a constituent assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution. He said Mr. Duterte told him and Senate President Aquilino L. Pimentel III that he prefers the “cheaper” con-ass over the constitutional convention (con-con) to jumpstart the country’s shift to a federal form of government.
The Speaker said con-ass is “cheaper and faster” than con-con, which could cost up to P7 billion.
There are three modes of amending the Constitution—through con-ass, con-con or a people’s initiative.
Under con-ass, Congress, through its “constituent power,” constitutes itself into a body and would perform the task of amending the Charter. Amending the Constitution via con-con will require the election of delegates. Registered voters may also launch a petition to change the Constitution. It should be signed by 12 percent, or 6.6 million, of 54.4 million registered voters.
Alvarez said Congress may convene as a con-ass within the year.
He also said the plebiscite for the new Constitution will be included in the midterm elections in 2019, while the country’s new leaders under the federal form of government would be elected by 2022.
“We will have one year to come up with a draft of the new Constitution. After that there will be a public-information campaign to explain to the people the new provisions. By midterm elections in 2019, we will submit it to the people via a plebiscite. After the midterm elections, we will have a transition government and by 2022 we will elect officials on the basis on a new Constitution,” he added.
Advisory council
PDP-Laban Rep. Alfredo B. Benitez of Negros Occidental said an advisory council composed of constitutional experts and leaders of various sectors should be created to set the parameters in amending the Charter before Congress can convene itself into a con-ass.
Benitez, author of the resolution calling for con-ass, said parameters should be set for Charter amendments prior to the convening of the assembly.
“My proposal calls for the creation of a council of leaders or experts that will recommend the provisions of the 1987 Constitution that necessitates amendments. Charter change should not be open-ended, many provisions aren’t broke and need no fixing,” he said in a statement.
Benitez added that the council can be appointed by the President or by Congress and it will be assigned to guide the con-ass as to what provisions of the Constitution should be amended and recommend proposed amendments or new Charter provisions.
“This scheme will allow the constituent assembly to complete its assigned task within the time period allotted by Congress. At the same time, only vital and urgent amendments will be considered,” he added.
Reconsider
Meanwhile, members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives urged Alvarez to reconsider their decision to convene Congress as a con-ass.
“We, [the] Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives, express our objection to the proposed constituent assembly,” the bloc said.
“Con-ass will not be acceptable to the people as they perceive Congress to be dominated by political dynasties and fear that vested and self-serving interests would inevitably influence proposed changes to the Constitution. This is evident in the public outcry against con-ass, particularly in social media, which has been fast and furious,” the group added.
Members of the bloc include Party-list Reps. Carlos Isagani T. Zarate of Bayan Muna, Antonio L. Tinio and Francisca L. Castro of ACT Teachers, Emmi A. de Jesus and Arlene D. Brosas of Gabriela, Ariel B. Casilao of Anakpawis and Sarah Jane L. Elago of Kabataan.