Advisory council needed before Con-Ass convenes

Target schedule for the regular operation of the new federal government is in 2022

A NEGROS lawmaker has proposed the creation of an advisory council before Congress convenes itself into a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) that would be tasked to revise the country's present charter.

Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez said an advisory council composed of constitutional experts and leaders of various sectors should be created to set the parameters in amending the 1987 Constitution.

Benitez welcomed the decision made by President Rodrigo Duterte in favor of Con-Ass as the mode of the amending the present charter. Duterte previously preferred Constitutional Convention (Con-Con).

“My proposal calls for the creation of a council of leaders or experts that will recommend the provisions of the 1987 Constitution that necessitates amend- ments. Charter change should not be open-ended, many provisions aren't broke and need no fixing,” he said.

The lawmaker said the council can be appointed by the president or by Congress. It will be assigned to guide the ConAss as to what provisions of the 1987 Constitution should be amended and recommend proposed amendments or new Charter provisions.

Alloted time

“This scheme will allow the constituent assembly to complete its assigned task within the time period allotted by Congress. At the same time, only vital and urgent amendments will be considered,” he explained.

Meanwhile, newlyinstalled House Minor- ity Leader Danilo Suarez vowed to support ConAss on the condition that no incumbent official will benefit from the new constitutional provisions.

Suarez agreed that the most economical way to amend the 1987 Constitution is by constituent assembly. He added that the Duterte Administration can capitalize on its popularity and enormous public trust to push for Con-Ass.

Based on the timetable released by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, the ratification of the amendments approved by Con-Ass members will be presented in a plebiscite that will be simultaneously held with the mid-term election in 2019.

The target schedule for the regular operation of the new federal government will be in 2022.