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'Ayaw namin!': House leaders reject proposal to extend congressmen's term from 3 to 5 years
'Ayaw namin!': House leaders reject proposal to extend congressmen's term from 3 to 5 years
At A Glance
- Ranking members of the House of Representatives asserted their opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment that aims to extend the term of office of congressmen from the current three years to five years, with a limit of two consecutive terms.
The plenary hall of the House of Representatives (Dexter Barro II/MANILA BULLETIN)
Ranking members of the House of Representatives asserted their opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment that aims to extend the term of office of congressmen from the current three years to five years, with a limit of two consecutive terms.
House Committee on Constitutional Amendments Chairperson Rep. Rufus Rodriguez says the House, under the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez, would not consider any amendment to the Constitution that is “political in nature”.
Rodriguez was referring to the Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 8 filed by Ilocos Norte 2nd district Rep. Angelo Barba.
The measure extends the limit of a House member’s term from the current three, three-year terms or nine years to two, five-year consecutive terms or 10 years.
“I think the House leadership will not favor this proposal,” Rodriguez, representative of the second district of Cagayan de Oro City, said.
“The Speaker has repeatedly declared that the push for Charter reform at this time is confined to amending the Constitution’s restrictive economic provisions,” he added.
In a separate statement, House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd district Rep. Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe said the lower chamber remains committed to pushing for economic amendments that would encourage more foreign investments.
“We are sticking with that advocacy, because that is what we think will be good for the country and that is what we believe the people will accept,” said Dalipe.
The lawmaker noted that the move to amend the “restrictive” economic provisions wasn't soley supported by lawmakers.
He cited results of a recent survey by research firm Tangere, which indicated that six in 10 Filipinos support the proposed economic reforms. Respondents believe these would result to more job and income opportunities, as well as faster economic growth.
“While there is broad acceptance for these reform proposals, a proposed constitutional amendment that is political in nature, on the other hand, will surely divide our people. They will suspect self interest as the motivation behind such proposal,” Dalipe emphasized.
Last March, the House approved on third and final reading the economic Charter change (Cha-cha) measure——embodied in RBH No. 7——which sought to amend grant of legislative franchises to public utilities (Article Xll), basic education (Article XlV), and advertising (Article XVl) under the 1987 Constitution.
The measure has been transmitted to the Senate for its consideration.