Duterte signs order creating panel to review 1987 Constitution

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed Executive Order 10, which seeks to create a consultative committee that will review the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

The president noted that there is a need to review the constitution to ensure that the mandate of the people is "responsive to changing times."

Duterte ordered the creation of a consultative committee that will study, conduct consultations and review the provisions of the constitution.

This includes the provisions on the structure of the government, local governance and economic policies.

The committee will be composed of 25 members picked by the president. The members shall represent the different sectors of the country.

All members of the committee must be natural-born citizens and residents of the Philippines. They also need to be at least 25 years old and be qualified voters.

"The committee shall formulate and adopt its internal rules and procedure in conducting the study, review and consultations on the provisions of the 1987 Constitution within 15 days from the date it is convened," the executive order read.

The Presidential Management Staff will serve as the secretariat of the committee, which will provide technical, administrative and staff support.

"The committee shall endeavor to complete its work on or before the lapse of six months from the date it is convened. After its presentation to the president of its report, recommendations and proposal, the committee shall wind up its operations," the order read.

The president has directed the Department of Budget and Management to determine the funding needs of the committee.

Earlier this year, Malacañang officials conducted local consultations on the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

Duterte had expressed his desire to change the country's form of government from a unitary presidential system to a parliamentary federal system.

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