House to vote on Cha-cha amendment bills this month

MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on constitutional amendments is expected to pass the revised proposals for changes in the 1987 Constitution by the end of this month.

Committee chair and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said they would vote on the proposals submitted by the inter-agency task force on federalism and constitutional reform on Feb. 26.

The task force is led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“The proposals from the task force to be approved by the committee will be included in our report, which will be submitted for deliberations of the plenary convening as a constituent assembly (con-ass),” Rodriguez told The STAR yesterday.

Rodriguez said the con-ass is expected to convene next month and they would conduct a third hearing on the task force’s proposals on Feb. 12.

Another meeting will be held on Feb. 19 before a vote is held by the end of this month.

During the second hearing on Tuesday, the lawmakers tackled the proposal of the task force to amend the constitutional provision on the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of local government units (LGUs).

Based on the proposal, the formula for the distribution of IRA funds will be adjusted in such a way that richer LGUs will be given less funds while poorer LGUs will get more.

The Supreme Court ruled that the IRA of the LGUs should include tariff and duties collected by the Bureau of Customs, 50 percent of value-added tax, 30 percent of national taxes collected in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 60 percent of national taxes collected from the exploration and development of national wealth, 85 percent of excise tax from tobacco products and a portion of franchise tax under Republic Acts 6631 and 6632 or the Horse Racing Laws.

The task force also seeks a ban on political dynasties in the proposed amendments, but lawmakers rejected it during the first hearing on Jan. 28.

They warned of repercussions in pursuing the proposal of the DILG to ban spouses or relatives within second-degree consanguinity of incumbent officials from seeking elective post for the same position in the immediate succeeding election.

The lawmakers branded the anti-political dynasty proposal as “anti-democratic,” saying that families in politics are elected under a democratic process.

Apart from the anti-political dynasty provision, the task force also proposed the inclusion of anti-turncoatism provision in the proposed amendments.

The task force proposed the creation of the Regional Development Authority to replace the Regional Development Council “to establish effective regional governance mechanisms that empower both elective officials and managers and career officers of national government agencies at the regional level.”

While the House panel proposed only nine regions and the election of 27 senators by region, the task force is pushing for creation 17 regions with two senators per region or a total of 34 senators.

The task force also supported the proposal for election of the president and vice president as one ticket to ensure a united leadership in the executive branch.

It likewise agreed with proposals to change the term of office of House members, local officials and senators to five years but with only one reelection - unlike the proposal of the House panel of two reelections.

The task force also proposed the removal of restrictions on foreign ownership of land and businesses, including mass media, public utilities and schools.