Duterte switches to con-ass as favored Cha-cha mode, Speaker Alvarez says

President Rodrigo Duterte is now leaning towards convening Congress as a constituent assembly (con-ass) as the means to amend the Constitution and put in place a federal system of government, a top ally said on Thursday.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said Duterte changed his preference for a constitutional convention (con-con) during the National Security Council meeting on Wednesday, when the huge cost of a con-con came up.

"At first the President wants a constitutional convention but on second thought, because it involves a huge sum of money. Last night after the NSC meeting, there was a discussion between the President, Senate President [Aquilino Pimentel III] and the Speaker, and Secretary [Benjamin] Diokno," Alvarez said.

"It was agreed that Congress would simply form a constituent assembly," he added.

Con-ass and con-con are two out of only three modes of changing the Constitution. The third alternative is a "People's Initiative."

In a con ass, members of Congress are convened to amend the Constitution. In a con-con, the people who will amend the charter will be elected by the people.

Considering the cost needed to hold an election to form a con con, Duterte is now leaning toward a con ass, Alvarez said.

Alvarez said the May 9 elections cost the government P70 billion.

Draft Charter in one year

Alvarez said the Duterte administration wanted the con-ass to come up with a new, draft Charter in one year.

"Then after that there will be public information drives to inform the people what is in that new charter," Alvarez said.

"By 2019, together with the local elections, we will submit it to the people for ratification," he added.

After the midterm elections, there will be a transition government and by 2022, there will be an election for a new president under the new Constitution.

When asked how lawmakers could perform their duties considering the time that will be devoted to revising the Constitution, Alvarez said only a specific committee would be fully devoted to amending the Charter.

Once the draft Charter is finished, the entire con-ass will vote on it before it is presented to the people for approval through the referendum the administration hopes to hold in 2019.

Unitary system imposed by colonizers

Alvarez said the Duterte administration is pushing for federalism to distribute wealth and power throughout the country more equitably.

He said that the present unitary form of government was imposed on Filipinos by its colonizers.

"The reason is simple: control," the Speaker said.

"It is easier to control when you have a unitary form of government because everything from income to distribution of wealth will be under the imperial government," he added.

"All income of provinces under this type of government, is remitted to the national government, up to the last centavo," Alvarez said.

Under a federal system of government, there will be one central authority and several constituent states, similar to the federal system of the United States.

Under a federal system, each state is free to legislate its own laws, based on the specific needs of an area.

Asked how many states there would be in the Philippines if it adopts the federal system of government, Alvarez said, "Maybe 11 or 12."

In the federal system, every state gets to keep most of the income the area earns and will only remit a certain portion to the national government.

When asked about the percentage that would be remitted to national coffers, the Speaker said, "Maybe 25 to 30 percent."

During the forum, Alvarez was asked how poorer provinces can compete against richer provinces in a federal form of government.

The Speaker said poor provinces will not be allowed to stand on their own and will be partnered with richer nearby provinces to ensure survival.

Earlier proposals for a federal form of government suggested the formation of 11 states that include the following:

    Luzon: four states — Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol;

     Visayas: four states — Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Western Visayas, and "Minparom" (Mindoro Oriental and Mindoro Occidental, Palawan and the Kalayaan Islands, Romblon, Marinduque), and

     Mindanao: three states — Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao, Bangsamoro

However, Alvarez said the specific details of the type of federal government that the Philippines could adopt would be left to the con-ass, including issues such as control of the police, income distribution, and others.

Will not eliminate corruption

Alvarez said the federal system of government was not an insurance against corruption especially as "zero corruption is impossible."

However, he claimed that the federal system left minimal opportunities for corruption.

The Speaker said the continued use of a unitary system of government had contributed to intergenerational conflict, hampered economic growth and stunted development.

He said a change in the system of government was needed to adapt to the Philippines' unique historical, cultural, and geographical background. —NB, GMA News