The 304-strong delegates of the proposed hybrid constitutional convention, to be formed in connection with the brewing Charter change (Cha-cha) efforts in the House of Representatives, will each be entitled to a P10,000 "per diem" or daily salary.
This provision can be found in Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6, which calls for the creation of a con-con.
Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, recently sponsored RBH No.6 last week on the plenary floor.
"Every delegate shall be entitled to a per diem of P10,000 for every day of actual attendance in the convention or in any of its committees," the measure read.
"Every delegate shall be entitled to necessary traveling expenses to and from his place of residence when attending the sessions of the Convention or any of its committees,” it added.
The House is batting for the election of one delegate from each of the 253 congressional districts. On top of this, 51 delegates will be appointed, for a total of 304. The combination of elected and appointed delegates make up the hybrid con-con set-up.
This means that the salary budget for a full, one-day con-con would be P3,040,000.
The term of the delegates shall be seven months and 13 days, or from Nov. 21, 2023, to June 30, 2024. The election of delegates will take place on Oct. 30, 2023.
It will be the delagates' task to convene, study the existing 1987 Constitution and list down possible revisions to it. These proposed revisions would then be considered by Congress.
Rodriguez said during a constitutional amendments panel hearing Monday, Feb. 27 that the government will be spending “P5 billion for the convention itself".
The P10,000 per diem does not cover the travel and lodging expenses of the 304 delegates.