Aside from economic provisions, Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Secretary Larry Gadon wants Congress to also review the possible amendments in the Constitution’s political provisions, particularly with regard to extending the term of local executives from three to six years.

Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Secretary Larry Gadon

In a video message, the official called on Congress to study the possible amendments in the political provisions of the 1987 Philippines Constitution seeing as Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7, which seeks to amend the restrictive economic provisions, has just hurdled the third reading.

Specifically, Gadon is pushing for the extension of terms of local chief executives or city and provincial mayors.

“Dapat isahan na lang ang pag-aamendiya ng Konstitusyon (The amendment of the Constitution should be in one go),” he said, adding that elections held every three years in the local governments is expensive and runs to billions of pesos.

He explained that instead of being reelected every three years for a total of three reelections, mayors instead may be given a chance for just one reelection after the first six-year term.

“Kagaya na lamang ng termino ng mga mayor, napaikli iyong tatlong taon dahil ang unang taon ay ginugugol lamang sa pag-aaral ng kanilang tungkulin (Three years is too short for the term of a mayor because the first year would be spent studying their mandate),” Gadon said.

“Ang pangalawang taon ay doon pa lamang nila i-implement ‘yung kanilang mga proyekto, ng mga adbokasiya na gusto nilng gawin. At ang pangatlong taon ay nauuwi naman sa preparasyon ng kampanya (It’s only in the second year that they can implement their projects, their advocacies. And the third year would be spent preparing for the campaign),” he added.

Gadon urged lawmakers and Filipinos to consider his suggestion because this, he stressed, would improve not only the political system but the lives of many poor Filipinos.