House starts con-ass caravan next week

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives will start next week an information dissemination campaign on constituent assembly (con-ass) as a mode of amending the 1987 Constitution to shift from the presidential to a federal form of government, a lawmaker said yesterday.

Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado, chairman of the committee on constitutional amendments, said the caravan will start in Dagupan City on Feb. 24.

Mercado said the panel would come up with the report recommending con-ass as a form of Charter change.

Mercado said they would also hold caravans in the cities of Bacolod, Davao and Tacloban.

The caravan aims to make the public aware of the plan of Congress to convene as con-ass.

“We’re going out to different regions to consult the people. We want to inform the public about the advantages and disadvantages of federalism and what specifics they prefer,” Mercado said.

He expressed hope that Charter change would be taken up in the chamber when Congress resumes session on May 2.

In October last year, the panel voted 32-7 with three abstentions to approve con-ass as the mode of amending the Charter.