A BILL calling for a Constitutional Convention (Concon) “to update the three-decade-old Constitution in a holistic and comprehensive manner” has been filed at the House of Representatives.
House Bill (HB) 5070, or “An Act calling for a Constitutional Convention and Appropriating Funds Thereof,” filed by Lakas Rep. Aleta C. Suarez of Quezon, has been referred to the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, chaired by Liberal Party Rep. Mylene J. Garcia-Albano of Davao City.
HB 5070 provides that the convention delegates be composed of members to be elected from every legislative district of the Philippines.
The measure also proposes that the election of delegates to the convention be held on the second Monday of May 2016 and shall commence session at the Plenary Hall of the House of Representatives on the first Monday of July following the election of the delegates.
The bill also provides that the amendments to, or revision of, the Constitution, as proposed by the convention, shall be valid when ratified by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite, which shall be held simultaneously with the May 2019 national elections.
In filing the bill, Suarez said, “One Constitutional issue being questioned is the viability of present economic provisions, which, experts claim, have been limiting our opportunities to realize the nation’s potential as an economic powerhouse.”
“Since the time the 1987 Constitution took effect, economic and political winds have changed, which makes some of its provisions anachronistic or even outright economically not viable,” Suarez added.
The author cited a related measure—the Resolution of Both Houses 1 written by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. seeking to relax the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution.
The resolution, filed by Belmonte and Sen. Ralph Recto, is eyeing to amend economic provisions on the 60-40 rule that limits foreign ownership of certain business activities in the Philippines.
The resolution will include the phrase “unless provided by law” in the foreign-ownership provision of the Constitution, particularly land ownership, public utilities, natural resources, the media and advertising industries.
“Notice that our mining industry is still on hold and has stagnated in the last four years due to the absence of a clear and consistent policy due to constitutional questions,” Suarez said.
Suarez also cited another issue that “demands a review vis-à-vis the Constitution is the proposed Bangsamoro basic law, which several constitutional experts and political analysts have already noted to have several provisions that may be in contravention to those of the 1987 Constitution.”