Senator Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla filed today July 21 a review of the provisions in the 1987 Constitution that are considered stumbling blocks to equitable economic growth.
After filing Senate Resolution 6, Padilla said It is high time to fine-tune the 1987 Constitution - including considering a shift to federalism and a parliamentary government - so it can fulfill its goal of providing Filipinos with a just and humane society.
Padilla, who garnered the highest vote in the May 2022 senatorial elections, had sought chairmanship of the Senate constitutional amendments committee when the 19th Congress starts on July 25.
"While sovereign Filipino people promulgated the Constitution in order to build a just and humane society, it is unfortunate that after 35 years from its effectivity, we have yet to attain a 'just and humane society,'" he said in his resolution.
Padilla lamented that the country's economic growth has been "largely centralized" in Metro Manila and its neighboring regions such as Central Luzon and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) which accounted for 57 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - compared to 43 percent in the other 14 regions - from 2019 to 2021.
On the other hand, he said it is time to study federalism to undertake policy-making and legislative functions "reflective of the concerns of our various geographical regions.”
He added a federal government will decentralize the concentration of immense government powers from a unitary system, and will provide a long-term response to political and economic inequality, inequitable access to the delivery of goods and services, and undue distribution of government resources.
Also, Padilla said a shift to a parliamentary system may provide political stability that would prevent an unconstitutional or divisive way of removing a head of government such as a coup or "mob rule.”
Padilla, likewise, pointed out it is time to take a closer look at the economic provisions in the Constitution - particularly its restrictions on foreign equity in natural resources, public utilities, build-operate-transfer projects, and equity in mass media, among others.
He asked the Senate leadership to ‘’direct the committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes ‘’to review and study the 1987 Constitution for possible revision on the provisions particular to the form, structure, and power of government, economy and patrimony, and for other purposes.’’