Constitutional amendments panel: Con-ass will cost P204 million, con-con P11 billion

The House Committee on Constitutional Amendments estimates the cost of a constituent assembly to be around P204 million and of a constitutional convention to be around P11 billion, as seen in this table shared by the committee with the media on January 15, 2018. Photo: Erwin Colcol

The House Committee on Constitutional Amendments estimates that the government will spend P204 million if Congress convenes as a constituent assembly to propose amendments to the Constitution as part of the proposal to shift into a federal system, while a constitutional convention could cost P11 billion.

"Mas maganda nga yung constituent assembly, if I may say, because we have just discovered na if it's constitutional convention, we will spend P11 billion. Whereas a constituent assembly, you might be surprised, we will only spend P204 million," committee chairperson Roger Mercado said in a press conference at the House of Representatives on Monday.

"That's how economical and effective, if we will amend or review our Constitution through a constituent assembly," he added.

The Duterte administration has been pushing for a shift to a federal form of government as a means to address issues particularly in strife-torn Mindanao.

In an earlier interview, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said that if Congress decides to convene in a constituent assembly this month, the proposed new federal charter may be submitted for a referendum simultaneously with the scheduled Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections this May.

In a constitutional convention, however, delegates are elected by the people to propose amendments or revisions in the Constitution.

The estimated computation shared by Mercado with the media shows that if the election for the delegates of the constitutional convention takes place alongside the Barangay and Sangguniang Barangay elections, it will cost P8.17 billion. If conducted alone, it will cost P8.05 billion.

About P3 billion will also be needed for the operational costs, including maintenance and other operating expenses, office rental, supplies and capital outlay, which brings the total amount to P11 billion, according to the panel's estimate.

In a constitutional assembly, delegates need not be elected as they will already be members of Congress. According to the committee, a con-ass would need an augmentation cost for the committee affairs department and other departments amounting to P104,645,383 and P100,000,000, with the total cost reaching slightly over P204 million.

Mercado said his committee will finalize on Tuesday the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution to be discussed and approved if ever Congress decides to convene in a constituent assembly. — BM, GMA News