Gadon urges Congress to include political amendments in Cha-cha

Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon is urging Congress to include political amendments in the proposed Charter change. 

In a letter sent to the Senate and the House of Representatives, Gadon pointed out that as discussions on economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution unfold, ”it presents a significant opportunity to consider including changes to the political provisions as well.”

He said certain political provisions have proven to be costly and redundant, noting that amending them could lead to improved governance and greater benefits for the people. 

Term extension

Gadon suggested extending the term of local officials, including members of the House of Representatives, governors, vice governors, board members, mayors, vice mayors, and councilors, to six years. 

He pointed out that triennial elections incur substantial costs, draining billions in public funds and imposing financial burdens on candidates. For local executives, the initial year involves familiarizing themselves with office functions and departments, with subsequent years dedicated to project planning, budgeting, and campaigning. 

Meanwhile, he said there is a need to maintain the term limit for the President, Vice President, and senators, with no possibility of reelection as well as retain existing provisions on succession.

Further, Gadon said transitioning from a presidential to a parliamentary form of government, with the Prime Minister position shared by the Senate President and Speaker of the House, should be considered. 

He added that Cabinet ministers would be appointed by the Prime Minister as they would be responsible for daily government affairs and subject to removal by a vote of no confidence.

On the other hand, Gadon said the President should be designated as Head of State, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, and Head of Foreign Relations. The President will also have the power to appoint members of the Judiciary and Constitutional Commissions and may recommend the removal of cabinet ministers. 

The President and Vice President should be elected as a single team, with the Vice President assisting the President, Gadon added. 

Gadon said Charter change is a rare opportunity that demands meaningful changes benefiting our nation and future generations. 

”Let us seize this moment to enact comprehensive reforms,” he told lawmakers in the letter. 

Asked if President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, was aware of his letter to the Senate and House, Gadon replied in the negative saying “I am exercising my right as a Filipino desiring a better future for the country.”

Marcos earlier said that the planned amendments to the 1987 Constitution should only be limited to economic provisions.

“I want to make it clear. This administration’s position in introducing reforms to our Constitution extends to economic matters alone, or those strategically aimed at boosting our country’s economy. Nothing more,” Marcos said in his speech during the observation of Constitution Day 2024 in Makati City in February.

“In any event, this administration is going to continue to push hard to attract more foreign investments to significantly help us achieve our ambition of upper middle-class income status by 2025,” he added.

On March 6, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 7 which calls for a constitutional convention (con-con) to amend the 1987 Constitution.

Speaker Martin Romualdez said then the House aimed to limit the Cha-cha initiative to the economic provisions of the Constitution “to attract more foreign investments.”

The chamber has been moving to immediately amend the 1987 Constitution, citing the need to relax the so-called restrictive economic restrictions that supposedly hinder foreign investments in the country.

The Senate, on the other hand, is still discussing RBH 6 which also focuses on amending certain economic provisions of the Constitution. Unlike the House, the Senate believes there is no need to rush the passage of the measure.

Sought for comment Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said “it would be better to ask Sec. Gadon what poverty alleviation measures he has in mind and just request him to keep his mind off constitutional amendments.”—AOL, GMA Integrated News