IF THE Senate would not agree to postpone the 2019 mid-term elections, the people who support federalism can launch a People's Initiative, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said on Monday, July 16.
According to Alvarez, even if it is stated in the Constitution that the elections should be conducted every three years, there are also ways to postpone it either through legislation or an amendment of the Constitution through People’s Initiative.
“That can be done; we have already studied that alternative,” Alvarez said.
If the Senate will not agree, Alvarez said lawmakers at the House will proceed with the deliberations on charter change and eventually with the voting on the draft constitution, even without the Senate.
“It would be better if the Senate and the House can agree on this matter. But if not, I hope this would not happen, we can simply proceed with the task of deliberating on the draft through a constituent assembly (con-ass), get the required three-fourths vote and then we submit it to the people for ratification through a referendum,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez earlier said it would be more practical if the May elections will be postponed given the tight schedule at the House of Representatives.
Alvarez said that the Congress would need between six to eight months to complete the deliberations on the federal constitution and another six months for the information drive before the new constitution is presented to the public before the plebiscite.
Alvarez said he has not discussed these options yet with the President.
"I assumed that our President would not want to intervene on this matter. But that (Federalism) is his advocacy and I believe in that too. There are many congressmen too who support the idea,” he said.
The House of Representatives recently received the draft federal constitution drafted by the Consultative Committee.
House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said members of the House will need to wait still for the transmittal from the President before it begins its deliberations on the proposed federal constitution.
A copy of the draft charter has also been turned over to Senate President Vicente Sotto III. (SunStar Philippines)