ILOILO City – The House Committee on Constitutional Amendments held a public consultation on constitutional reforms at the University of the Philippines (UP) Visayas yesterday.
The vice chairperson of the committee, Cong. Lorenz Defensor (3rd District, Iloilo) led the consultation.
“We want to know the sentiments of the Ilonggos,” said Defensor.
The following issues were presented to the participants:
* relaxing economic provisions on land and equity restrictions
* amending the term of office of elected public officials
* regionalization of senators
* amending the role of the Commission on Appointments on the confirmation of appointments
* filling of vacuum in the presidential succession
* amending the Constitution through Constitutional Convention
* shift from unitary to federal system
* shift from presidential to parliamentary
Among the speakers were Cong. Ferdinand Gaite of Bayan Muna party-list, Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), former DILG officer Gary Olivar, and former congressman Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna.
Also present were former Iloilo governor Arthur Defensor Sr. and Iloilo City’s Cong. Julienne Baronda.
This was the second public consultation of the committee. The first was in Cagayan de Oro.
Defensor said more consultations would be held./PN
