# 1983 Proposed amendments to the Constitution of the Philippines

Source: Record of the Batasan, Proceedings and Debates, Sixth Regular Session 1983-1984, Volume Three. Prepared by Publication Service under the supervision of Mr. ANTONIO M. DE GUZMAN, Secretary-General, Batasang Pambansa. pp. 15-16, 124-125, 275-277, 361, 365, 496.
    For related documents, see Portal:Law of the Philippines
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Resolution No. 572 (As modified by the Committee)
Resolved by the Batasang Pambansa in session assembled pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution and its Rules to propose as it hereby proposes to amend Sections Two and Four of Article Eight of the Constitution:
SECTION 1. Section Two, Article Eight of the Constitution is hereby amended to read as follows:
    "Sec. 2. The Batasang Pambansa which shall be composed of not more than 200 Members unless otherwise provided by law, shall include representatives elected from the different [regions] PROVINCES WITH THEIR COMPONENT CITIES, HIGHLY URBANIZED CITIES AS MAY BE DECLARED BY LAW, AND METROPOLITAN MANILA, those elected or selected from the various sectors as may be provided by law, and those chosen by the President from Members of the Cabinet. METROPOLITAN MANILA SHALL BY LAW BE DIVIDED INTO DISTRICTS. [Regional] THE ELECTIVE representatives shall be apportioned BY LAW among the [regions] PROVINCES WITH THEIR COMPONENT CITIES, HIGHLY URBANIZED CITIES, AND THE DISTRICTS OF METROPOLITAN MANILA in accordance with the number of their respective inhabitants and on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio, BUT THE PROVINCES WITH THEIR COMPONENT CITIES AND HIGHLY URBANIIZED CITIES SHALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE REPRESENTATIVE EACH. THE PROVINCES AND CITIES SHALL HAVE AT LEAST THE SAME TOTAL NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES UNDER THE 1935 CONSTITUTION.
    [The number of representatives from each region and] The manner of [their] THE election of the REPRESENTATIVES shall be prescribed by law. The number of representatives from each sector and manner of their election shall be provided by law."
SEC. 2. Section Four, Article Eight of the Constitution is hereby amended to read as follows:
    "Sec. 4. No person shall be a Member of the Batasang Pambansa as a [regional] PROVINCIAL, CITY OR DISTRICT representative unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines and, on the day of the election, is at least twenty-five years of age, able to read and write, a registered voter in the [Region] POLITICAL SUBDIVISION in which he shall be elected, and a resident thereof for a period of not less than [one year] SIX MONTHS immediately preceding the day of the election.
    A sectoral representative shall be a natural-born citizen, able to read and write, and shall have such other qualifications as may be provided by law."
SEC. 3. Effectivity. - The proposed amendments shall take effect on the date the President of the Philippines shall proclaim that they have been ratified by a majority of the votes cast in the plebiscite held for the purpose, but not later than three months from the approval of the amendments.
Resolution No. 577
Be it resolved, as it is hereby resolved by the Batasang Pambansa, sitting as a Constituent assembly in session assembled, by a majority of all the Members, To propose as it hereby proposes:
(1) To amend Section 11 of Article XIV of the same Constitution to read as follows:
    "Section 11. The Batasang Pambansa, taking into account conservation, ecological, and developmental requirements of the natural resources, shall determine by law the size of lands of the public domain which may be developed, held or acquired by, or leased to, any qualified individual, corporation, or association, and the conditions therefor. No private corporation or association may hold alienable lands of the public domain except by lease not to exceed one thousand hectares in area; nor may any citizen hold such lands by lease in excess of five hundred hectares or acquire by purchase [or] homestead OR GRANT, in excess of twenty four hectares. No private corporation or association may hold by lease, concession, license, or permit, timber or forest lands and other timber or forest resources in excess of one hundred thousand hectares; however, such area may be increased by the Batasang Pambansa upon recommendation of the National Economic and Development Authority."
(2) To amend Section 12 of the same Constitution to read as follows:
    "Section 12. The State shall formulate and implement an agrarian AND URBAN LAND reform program aimed at emancipating the tenant from the bondage of the soil, PROVIDING LAND FOR THE LANDLESS, and achieving the goals enunciated in this Constitution.
    SUCH PROGRAM MAY INCLUDE THE GRANT OR DISTRIBUTION TO QUALIFIED TENANTS AND FARMERS IN AREAS NOT EXCEEDING THOSE FIXED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING SECTION OF ALIENABLE AND DISPOSABLE LANDS OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN WHICH THE PRESIDENT SHALL BY LAW RESERVE FROM TIME TO TIME."
These amendments shall be valid as a part of the Constitution when approved by a majority of the votes cast in an election/plebiscite at which it is submitted to the people for their ratification pursuant to Section 2 of Article XIV of the Constitution, as amended.
Resolution No. 579 (As modified by the Committee)
Resolved by the Batasang Pambansa, by a vote of not less than three-fourths of all its Members, to propose as it hereby proposes:
SECTION 1. There are hereby proposed amendments to the Constitution of the Philippines new sections of Article VII to be known as Sections 2 and 3 to read as follows:
    "SEC. 2. THERE SHALL BE A VICE-PRESIDENT WHO SHALL HAVE THE SAME QUALIFICATIONS AND TERM OF OFFICE AS THE PRESIDENT.
    "THE PRESIDENT MAY APPOINT THE VICE-PRESIDENT AS A MEMBER OF THE CABINET.
    "THE VICE-PRESIDENT SHALL BE ELECTED WITH THE PRESIDENT IN 1987 AND EVERY SIX YEARS THEREAFTER."
    SEC. 3. WHEN THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT ARE RUNNING UNDER THE SAME TICKET OF A POLITICAL PARTY, A VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENT SHALL ALSO BE A VOTE FOR THE VICE-PRESIDENT, UNLESS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW."
SEC. 2. Article VII, Section 2 of the Constitution is hereby proposed to be amended so as to read as follows:
    "SEC. [2] 4. No person may be elected President unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, able to read and write, at least [fifty] FORTY years of age on the day of THE election, [for President] and a resident of the Philippines for at least ten years immediately preceding such election."
SEC. 3. Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution is hereby proposed to be amended so as to read as follows:
    "SEC. [4] 6. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of his term, the President-elect shall have died, THE VICE-PRESIDENT-ELECT SHALL BECOME PRESIDENT. [or shall have failed to qualify or] If [the] A President shall not have been chosen BEFORE THE TIME FIXED FOR THE BEGINNING OF HIS TERM, OR IF THE PRESIDENT SHALL HAVE FAILED TO QUALIFY, THEN THE VICE-PRESIDENT SHALL ACT AS PRESIDENT UNTIL A PRESIDENT SHALL HAVE QUALIFIED, AND THE BATASANG PAMBANSA SHALL BY LAW PROVIDE FOR THE CASE WHEREIN NEITHER A PRESIDENT-ELECT NOR A VICEPRESIDENT-ELECT SHALL HAVE QUALIFIED, DECLARING WHO SHALL THEN ACT AS PRESIDENT OR THE MANNER IN WHICH ONE WHO IS TO ACT SHALL BE SELECTED, AND SUCH PERSON SHALL ACT ACCORDINGLY UNTIL A PRESIDENT OR VICE-PRESIDENT SHALL HAVE QUALIFIED. [the Executive Committee, headed by the Prime Minister, as hereinafter provided, shall exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the President until a President shall have been elected and qualified. If the Batasang Pambansa withdraws its confidence in the Prime Minister, the Speaker shall preside over the Executive Committee. In the absence of an Executive Committee, the Speaker of the Batasang Pambansa shall act as President until a President shall have been elected and qualified.]"
    "[In the event of death or failure to qualify as herein provided, the Batasang Pambansa shall call a special election in the manner prescribed in Section 7 hereof.]"
SEC. 4. Article VII, Section 6 of the Constitution is hereby proposed to be amended so as to read as follows:
    "SEC. [6] 8. (1) The President shall have an official residence and shall receive a compensation to be fixed by law, which shall not be increased or decreased during his term of office. He shall not receive during his tenure any other emolument from the Government or any other source. Until the Batasang Pambansa shall provide otherwise, the President shall receive an annual salary of one hundred thousand pesos. THE VICE-PRESIDENT, WHEN NOT ACTING AS PRESIDENT, SHALL RECEIVE AN ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF EIGHTY THOUSAND PESOS.
    "(2) The President AND THE VICE-PRESIDENT shall not, during [his] THEIR tenure, hold any other office, practice any profession, participate directly or indirectly in the management of any business, or be financially interested directly or indirectly in any contract with, or in any franchise or special privilege granted by, the Government or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including any government-owned or controlled corporation."
SEC. 5. Article VII, Section 7 of the Constitution is hereby proposed to be amended so as to read as follows:
    "SEC. [7] 9. In case of permanent disability, death, removal from office or resignation of the President, THE VICE-PRESIDENT SHALL BECOME THE PRESIDENT, AND THE BATASANG PAMBANSA SHALL BY LAW PROVIDE FOR THE CASE OF PERMANENT DISABILITY, DEATH, REMOVAL FROM OFFICE OR RESIGNATION OF BOTH THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT, DECLARING WHAT OFFICER SHALL THEN BECOME PRESIDENT OR THE MANNER IN WHICH ONE SHALL BE SELECTED. IN CASE A VACANCY IN THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OCCURS BEFORE 1987, THE SPEAKER OF THE BATASANG PAMBANSA SHALL BECOME PRESIDENT FOR THE UNEXPIRED TERM. THE SPEAKER WHO BECOMES PRESIDENT SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 1987. [the Executive Committee headed by the Prime Minister as hereinafter provided shall exercise the powers of the President until a President shall have been elected and qualified. If the permanent disability, death, removal from office or resignation of the President occurs earlier than eighteen (18) months before the expiration of his term, the Batasang Pambansa shall, within thirty days from the time the vacancy occurs, call a special election to be held not earlier than forty-five days nor later than sixty days from the time of such call, to elect a President to serve the unexpired term.]
    "[In the absence of an Executive Committee, the Speaker shall act as President until the President shall have been elected and qualified.]"
SEC. 6. Article VII, Section 10 of the Constitution is hereby proposed to be amended so as to read as follows:
    "SEC. [10] 12. The President shall appoint the heads of bureaus and offices, the officers of the armed forces of the Philippines from the rank of brigadier general or commodore, and all other officers of the Government whose appointments are not otherwise provided for, and those whom he may be authorized by law to appoint. However, the Batasang Pambansa may by law vest in the Prime Minister, members of the Cabinet, [the Executive Committee,] courts, heads of agencies, commissions, and boards the power to appoint inferior officers."
SEC. 7. As a consequence of the foregoing amendments, the numbering of the Sections of Article VII of the Constitution shall be adjusted as follows: Section 3 shall become Section 5; Section 5 shall become Section 7; Section 8 shall become Section 10; Section 9 shall become Section 11; Section 11 shall become Section 13; Section 12 shall become Section 14; Section 13 shall become Section 15; Section 14 shall become Section 16; Section 15 shall become Section 17; and Section 16 shall become Section 18.
SEC. 8. All of Section 3, Article IX of the Constitution is hereby repealed.
SEC. 9. Article IX, Section 4 of the Constitution of the Philippines is proposed to be amended so as to read as follows:
    "SEC. [4] 3. The term of office of the Prime Minister shall commence from the date of his election by the Batasang Pambansa and shall end on the date that the nomination of his successor is submitted by the President to the Batasang Pambansa. Any other member of the Cabinet [or Executive Committee] may be removed at the discretion of the President.”
SEC. 10. Article IX, Section 6 of the Constitution of the Philippines is proposed to be amended so as to read as follows:
    "SEC. [6] 5. The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister AND the Members of the Cabinet [and Members of the Executive Committee] on assuming office, shall take the following oath or affirmation:
          "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully and conscientiously fulfill my duties as (name of position) of the Philippines, preserve and defend its Constitution, execute its laws, do justice to every man and consecrate myself to the service of the Nation. So help me God. (In case of affirmation, the last sentence will be omitted.)"
SEC. 11. Article IX, Section 7 of the Constitution is hereby proposed to be amended so as to read as follows:
    "SEC. [7] 6. The salaries and emoluments of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister AND Members of the Cabinet [and of the Executive Committee] shall be fixed by law which shall not be increased or decreased during their tenure of office. Until otherwise provided by law, the Prime Minister shall receive the same salary as that of the President."
SEC. 12. Article IX, Section 8 of the Constitution of the Philippines is proposed to be amended so as to read as follows:
    "SEC. [8] 7. The Prime Minister AND the Members of the Cabinet [and the Members of the Executive Committee] shall be subject to the provisions of Section 11, Article VIII hereof and may not appear as counsel before any court or administrative body, or manage any business, or practice any profession, and shall also be subject to such other disqualifications as may be provided by law."
SEC. 13. Article IX, Section 9 of the Constitution of the Philippines is proposed to be amended so as to read as follows:
    "SEC. [9] 8. The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister OR any Member of the Cabinet [or the Executive Committee ] may resign for any cause without vacating his seat as Provincial, City, District or Sectoral Representative in the Batasang Pambansa, or any other government position."
SEC. 14. As a consequence of the foregoing amendments, Section 5 of Article IX shall become Section 4 and Section 10 shall become Section 9.
SEC. 15. Article VIII, Section 10 of the Constitution of the Philippines is proposed to be amended so as to read as follows:
    "SEC. 10. A Member of the Batasang Pambansa shall not hold any other office of employment in the Government or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including Government-owned or controlled corporations, during his tenure except that of Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Member of the Cabinet [or the Executive Committee] OR Deputy Minister. Neither shall he, during the term for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office which may have been created or emoluments thereof increased while he was a Member of the Batasang Pambansa."
SEC. 16. Article VIII, Section 13, Paragraph (2) of the Constitution is hereby proposed to be amended so as to read as follows:
    "(2) The Prime Minister may advise the President in writing to dissolve the Batasang Pambansa whenever the need arises for a popular vote of confidence on fundamental issues, but not on a matter involving his own personal integrity. Whereupon, the President may dissolve the Batasang Pambansa not earlier than seven nor later than fourteen days from his receipt of the advice, and call for an election on a date set by him which shall not be earlier than forty-five nor later than sixty days from the date of such dissolution. However, no dissolution of the Batasang Pambansa shall take place within eighteen months immediately preceding a regular election of the Batasang Pambansa or within eighteen months immediately following such election, or during the pendency of impeachment proceedings against the President. [or when the powers of the President are exercised by the Executive Committee or the Speaker.] The Batasang Pambansa shall not be dissolved oftener than once every twelve (12) months."
SEC. 17. Article XII (B), Section 4 of the Constitution is hereby proposed to be amended so as to read as follows:
    "SEC. 4. (1) Unless otherwise provided by law no elective official shall be eligible for appointment to any office or position during his tenure except as Member of the [Executive Committee referred to in Section 3, Article IX hereof.] CABINET.
    "(2) No candidate who lost in an election shall be eligible for appointment or reappointment to any office in the Government, or in government-owned or controlled corporation, within one year following such election."
SEC. 18. The title of Article VII of the Constitution is proposed to be amended so as to read as follows:
"The President AND VICE-PRESIDENT"
SEC. 19. The title of Article IX of the Constitution is proposed to be amended so as to read as follows:
"The Prime Minister AND The Cabinet" [And the Executive Committee]"
SEC. 20. The foregoing amendments shall become effective on the date the President of the Philippines shall proclaim that they have been ratified in a plebiscite in accordance with Section 2, Article XVI of the Constitution of the Philippines.
Resolution No. 597
WHEREAS, the approval by the Batasang Pambansa of a resolution proposing to amend certain sections of Article VIII by providing for the election of its Members from provinces, highly urbanized cities and districts necessitates a proposal to amend certain sections of Article IX so as to harmonize the provisions of both Articles on the membership of the Batasang Pambansa: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Batasang Pambansa, by a vote of three-fourths of all its Members, to propose, as it hereby proposes:
SECTION 1. The first paragraph, Section 1, Article IX of the Constitution is amended to read as follows:
"SECTION 1. There shall be a Cabinet which shall be composed of Ministers with or without portfolio appointed by the President. At least a majority of the Members of the Cabinet who are heads of ministries shall come from the provincial, city or district Representatives of the Batasang Pambansa."
SEC. 2. Section 9, Article IX of the Constitution is amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 9. The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, any Member of the Cabinet or the Executive Committee may resign for any cause without vacating his seat as provincial, city, district or sectoral representative in the Batasang Pambansa, or any other government position."
SEC. 3. These amendments shall be valid as part of the Constitution when approved by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite to be held pursuant to Section 2, Article XVI of the Constitution.
Resolution No. 607
Resolved by the Batasang Pambansa:
SECTION 1. For purposes of the election of Members of the regular Batasang Pambansa on the second Monday of May 1984 and subsequent elections and until otherwise provided by law, the Members of the Batasang Pambansa shall be apportioned to the different provinces with their component cities, highly urbanized cities and the representative districts of Metropolitan Manila as follows:
National Capital Region: Manila, 6; Quezon City, 4; Caloocan, 2; Pasay, 1; Pasig and Marikina, 2; Las Piñas and Parañaque, 1; Makati, 1; Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela, 2; San Juan and Mandaluyong, 1; Taguig, Pateros and Muntinglupa, 1.
Region I: Abra, 1; Benguet, 1; Ilocos Norte, 2; Ilocos Sur, 2; La Union, 2; Mountain Province, 1; Pangasinan, 6; Baguio City, 1. Region II: Batanes, 1; Cagayan, 3; Ifugao, 1; Isabela, 4; Kalinga-Apayao, 1; Nueva Vizcaya, 1; Quirino, 1.
Region III: Bataan, 1; Bulacan, 4; Nueva Ecija, 4; Pampanga, 4; Tarlac, 2; Zambales, 1; Olongapo City, 1;
Region IV: Aurora, 1; Batangas, 4; Cavite, 3; Laguna, 4; Marinduque, 1; Occidental Mindoro, 1; Oriental Mindoro, 2; Palawan, 1; Quezon, 4; Romblon, 1; Rizal, 2.
Region V: Albay, 3; Camarines Norte, 1; Camarines Sur, 4; Catanduanes, 1; Masbate, 2; Sorsogon, 2.
Region VI: Aklan, 1; Antique, 1; Capiz, 2; Iloilo, 5; Negros Occidental, 7.
Region VII: Bohol, 3; Cebu, 6; Negros Oriental, 3; Siquijor, 1; Cebu City, 2.
Region VIII: Leyte, 5; Southern Leyte, 1; Eastern Samar, 1; Northern Samar, 1; Samar, 2.
Region IX: Basilan, 1; Sulu, 1; Tawi-Tawi, 1; Zamboanga del Norte, 2; Zamboanga del Sur, 3; Zamboanga City, 1.
Region X: Agusan del Norte, 1; Agusan del Sur, 1; Bukidnon, 2; Camiguin, 1; Misamis Occidental, 1; Misamis Oriental, 2; Surigao del Norte, 1; Cagayan de Oro, 1.
Region XI: Surigao del Sur, 1; Davao del Norte, 3; Davao Oriental, 1; Davao del Sur, 2; South Cotabato, 3; Davao City, 2.
Region XII: Lanao del Norte, 1; Lanao del Sur, 1; Maguindanao, 2; North Cotabato, 2; Sultan Kudarat, 1; Iligan City, 1.
SEC. 2. Any province that may hereafter be created or any component city that may hereafter be declared by or pursuant to law as a highly urbanized city, shall be entitled in the next election following such creation or reclassification to at least one Member pending a new apportionment, unless each is entitled to more than one Member on the basis of the number of its inhabitants and on the same uniform and progressive ratio-used in the last preceding apportionment. The number of Members of the province out of which the new province was created or where the component city was formerly geographically located shall be apportioned accordingly by the Commission on Elections.
SEC. 3. The foregoing Ordinance to be appended to the Constitution shall take effect on the date the President of the Philippines shall proclaim that they have been ratified by a majority of the votes cast in the plebiscite held for that purpose.
Resolution No. 606
WHEREAS, significant numbers of residents in urban areas in various parts of the country are without residential land of their own and do not have the means to provide themselves with decent shelter;
WHEREAS, this deplorable situation is caused in great measure by the traditional concept of land ownership in Philippine society which has resulted in great misery among the urban poor, thereby hampering economic development and threatening the social and political stability of the nation;
WHEREAS, under the New Society the government has proclaimed urban land reform and has enacted laws and implemented programs pursuant thereto;
WHEREAS, there is need to continue developing and improving the urban land reform program in order to adequately meet the needs of ever-growing segments or urban communities;
WHEREAS, there is a corresponding need to emphasize and strengthen the constitutional base for urban land reform consistent with the constitutional provisions on social justice, bridging the gap between the rich and the poor, and other provisions of the Constitution: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Batasang Pambansa, by a vote of three-fourths of all its Members, To propose, as it hereby proposes:
SECTION 1. To amend Section XIV of the Philippine Constitution by inserting between Sections 12 and 13 thereof a new section which shall read as follows:
    "Section 12-A. THE STATE SHALL FORMULATE AND IMPLEMENT AN URBAN LAND REFORM AND HOUSING PROGRAM TO PROVIDE DESERVING LANDLESS AND HOMELESS OR INADEQUATELY SHELTERED RESIDENT CITIZENS REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE LAND AND DECENT HOUSING CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE ENUNCIATED IN THIS CONSTITUTION."
SEC. 2. This amendment shall be valid as part of the Constitution when approved by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite held pursuant to Section two, Article Sixteen of the Constitution.
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