Except for barangay men, the country’s elective officials, including the president and the vice president, may serve for a total of ten years in two consecutive five-year terms of office, under a legislative proposal filed on Friday, Jan. 7 by a senior administration lawmaker.

In Resolution of Both Houses No. 7, principal author Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., sought to convene the Senate and the House of Representatives into a constituent assembly (ConAss) to amend certain political provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

Aside from giving elective officials longer terms in office, RBH No. 7 also provides that in every presidential election, a vote for the president will also be counted for the official running mate provided that both belong to the same political party.

“This is to encourage strong party system,” said Gonzales, chairman of the House Committee on Bases Conversion.

RBH No. 7 seeks to amend the following provisions of the 1987 Constitution: Section 7, Article VI on term limitations of members of the House of Representatives; Section 4, Article VII fixing the term of office of the president and the vice president and Section 8, Article X that sets the term cap for elective local officials, except barangay executives.

During the 17th Congress, Gonzales, together with then ABS Partylist Rep. Eugene De Vera, authored a similar resolution for constitutional revision that won strong support in the Lower House.

In RBH 7, Gonzales underscored the need to modify the terms of office of elective officials, except senators and barangay officials, “through the most expeditious, judicious and inexpensive way via the Constituent Assembly.”

Gonzales pointed out that “past experiences” indicate that the three-year term for House members is quite short for the lawmaker to pursue much-needed policies through legislation.

“Whereas, with the giganteum tasks given to the members of the House of Representatives, a need arises to increase their term of office from three years to five years but limiting them to only two consecutive five-year term in office,” he said.

He said the single six-year term of office granted a president is likewise insufficient for the chief executive to implement long term programs and policies.

Under RBH No. 7, the president will be given five years in the first term and another five years if re-elected, after which he or she will no longer be qualified to join future elections to seek any elective post.

The same term limitation will be imposed on the elected vice president.

The legislative proposal bars incumbent Lower House members on their third and final term to run for the same position in the next immediate election following the ratification of the constitutional amendments.

The same imposition that is provided under the proposed transitory provision will apply to municipal or city officials.

The incumbent president, in this case, President Rodrigo Duterte, and his predecessors are ineligible to seek any elective position, including the presidency.