At least one ranking congressman has voiced out his support for a constituent assembly (con-ass) over a constitutional convention (con-con) in the ongoing effort to revise the 1987 Constitution.

According to House Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd district Rep Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr., going the con-ass route will appease two key sectors that both have problems with the proposed con-con method of Charter change (Cha-cha).

In a statement Tuesday, March 28, Gonzales particularly mentioned how choosing con-ass would address the misgivings of Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri and his colleagues on the plenary powers of a con-con, as well as the concern of the Makati Business Club (MBC) and big business groups on the high cost of a convention, which had been estimated at a minimum of P14 billion.

“I agree with Senate President Migz Zubiri that a con-con will have plenary powers, including proposing political amendments. Congress will have no control over a con-con. So  should we not instead convene as a con-ass?” Gonzales said.

The deputy speaker, who had proposed a con-ass under RBH No. 1, said a constituent assembly “is the most expeditious, most inexpensive and most controllable manner of proposing Charter amendments".

“We could agree under a joint resolution to limit the effort to rewriting the economic provisions. I think there is consensus on that in both chambers. Any political amendment proposal will be immediately rejected,” he said.

Gonzales' pro-con-ass stance is at-odds with that of the House of Representatives, which last March 6 overwhelmingly approved on third and final reading Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 6. The measure calls for the creation of the con-con, the 314 delegates of which would be tasked to propose changes to the existing Charter.

Con-con proponents in the House have long been saying that the Cha-cha move will focus on lifting the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution. This will pave the way for more foreign direct investments (FDIs) to the Philippines, they said.

The vast majority of the 314 con-con delegates would need to be elected, thus the need to hold an elections. They will be entitled to allowances of P10,000 per work day for a period of seven months.

In a joint statement on Friday, March 24, MBC, Finex, Filipina CEO Circle, Judicial Reform Initiative, Philippine Women’s Economic Network, and Women Business Council of the Philippines opposed the current House initiative to rewrite the 1987 Constitution’s economic provisions via con-con.

They cited the high cost of funding a con-con that would propose the amendments, the investment promotion campaign of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and recently enacted laws that aim to relax certain economic restrictions.

Under a con-ass, sitting House members (314) and senators (24) themselves will perform the task of the con-con delegates.

Gonzales said the two chambers could also agree that voting would be separate, with each house mustering at least a three-fourths vote on any constitutional amendment proposal as required by the Constitution.

“As for the expenses, these would be minimal, since there would be no need for an election, unlike in a constitutional convention, no additional salaries and allowances, no additional personnel. Whatever expenses that may be incurred, we could charge them to our own budget,” he said.

“If we convene in May or June, we could have September as our deadline so we could present the Charter amendment proposals to the people in a plebiscite that could coincide with the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October to further limit expenses,” added Gonzales.