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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines provides for three 
modes of effecting amendments or revisions thereof, as follows: (1) Constituent 
Assembly, (2) Constitutional Convention, and (3) People’s Initiative. Despite various 
calls for constitutional change in the past decade, no amendatory process has 
succeeded in both houses of Congress. 
The call for constitutional change is now more relevant and crucial than ever. 
As the world economy stirs from the dampening effects of the COVID-19 pandemic 
and the spiraling prices of food, fuel and other goods, the Philippines is firmly 
pursuing the path to economic recovery. Despite more optimistic economic outlooks 
for the Philippines in 2023, the fact still holds that the country incurred Php two 
trillion in debt due to the pandemic. Moreover, a World Bank report cites that the 
pandemic hit our rural dwellers the hardest, where job losses were experienced the 
most. Our country, therefore, needs to generate robust economic growth so that we 
can bounce back from the global downturn and turn a new chapter for our economy. 
The next few years will be decisive as to how the country charts its post-
pandemic future. Interventions by the national government will be crucial in turning 
the national economy around and making it more resilient, at least in the next decade. 
Emerging from a turbulent three-year period is the most opportune time to act and 
change certain fundamental constitutional policies that have back the country’s 
economic progress since 1987. 
Some of the most significant policies that inhibit our economy’s full growth 
potentials are the economic provisions in Article XII (National Economy and 
Patrimony), Article XIV (Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture and 
January 19, 2023
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Sports) and Article VI (General Provisions) of the 1987 Constitution. These 
provisions are foremost in the charter change envisioned under this measure. 
However, despite the urgency for constitutional change, the delicate nature of 
such a process is recognized. Among the three mechanisms provided in the 1987 
Constitution, the Constitutional Convention option presents itself as the most 
democratic approach. 
As such, this bill calls for the formation of the Constitutional Convention of 
2024, with the election of delegates to coincide with the October 2023 barangay 
elections, in order to address the usual objection of high cost attendant to this 
particular mode of amending or revising the Constitution. 
In view of the foregoing, the swift passage of this bill is sought. 
RICHARD I. GOMEZ, DPA 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez 
AN ACT 
CONSTITUTING A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION  
TO AMEND THE 1987 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE 
PHILIPPINES, DEFINING THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR ITS DELEGATES 
WHO SHALL BE ELECTED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE NEXT 
BARANGAY ELECTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This law shall be known as the “Constitutional 
Convention Act of 2024.” 
SEC. 2. Powers and Functions. -The Constitutional Convention to be 
constituted under this Act shall exercise its power to revise or amend the 1987 
Constitution within the bounds of the fundamental Filipino principles and values 
stated in the latter’s Preamble.  
SEC. 3. Composition. - The Constitutional Convention shall be composed of 
delegates who shall be elected from every legislative district of the Republic of the 
Philippines. Each legislative district shall have one (1) delegate to the Constitutional 
Convention.  The Commission on Elections shall within thirty (30) days from the 
enactment of this Act, promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the election 
of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention. 
SEC. 4. Qualifications. -Delegates shall have the same qualifications as those 
required of Members of the House of Representatives, as provided under Article VI, 
Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. 
SEC. 5. Disqualifications. -The following are disqualified from being a 
candidate for the election of delegates of the Constitutional Convention: 
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1. All incumbent officials of the government, whether elective or 
appointive, including but not limited to the President, Vice-President, 
Members of Congress, local government officials, and officers and 
employees of corporations or enterprises owned and/or controlled by 
the government; and  
2. Any persons who has been declared insane or incompetent, or has been 
sentenced by final judgment for subversion, insurrection, rebellion or 
for any offense for which he has been sentenced to a penalty of more 
than eighteen (1) months or for a crime involving moral turpitude, shall 
be disqualified to be a candidate for the Constitutional Convention, nor 
allowed to sit as a delegate of the Constitutional Convention, unless he 
has been given plenary pardon or granted amnesty.  
 
SEC. 6. Future Disqualifications. -Any person elected as a delegate of the 
Constitutional Convention shall not be eligible to run for any public office or position 
in the first national and first local elections to be held after the ratification of the new 
Constitution. Further, no elected delegate of the Constitutional Convention shall be 
appointed to any public office or position while the Constitutional Convention is in 
session and within a period of one (1) year after the plebiscite for the revised or 
amended Constitution.  
SEC. 7. Election of Delegates. - The election of delegates to the Convention 
shall be held, simultaneously with the next barangay elections. The Commission on 
Elections (COMELEC) shall within thirty (30) days from the enactment of this Act, 
promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary for the conduct of such 
elections. 
SEC. 8. Who May Convene. - The Chairman of the COMELEC, assisted by 
the Secretary of the Senate and the Secretary General of the House of Representatives, 
shall initially take charge of all arrangements for the convening of the Constitutional 
Convention. 
SEC. 9. Commencement of the Session. - The Convention shall meet in the 
Session Hall of the House of Representatives on January 8, 2024, Monday, at ten 
o’clock in the morning. 
 The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
shall jointly preside at its opening until a presiding officer is elected by the 


 
 
 
 
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Convention from among the delegates. The Convention shall be deemed organized 
upon the election of the Convention President and presiding officer, which shall be 
the first order of business. The Convention shall choose such other officers, as it may 
deem necessary. 
SEC. 10. Vacancy in the Position of Delegate. - Whenever a vacancy occurs 
in the position of delegate, the Commission on Elections, upon due certification of the 
existence of such vacancy and recommendation by the Convention, shall immediately 
call a special election to fill the vacancy, which election shall be held within thirty 
(30) days from the date of the said call. 
Should the vacancy occur before the start of the convention, the Commission 
on Elections, after verification of the said vacancy, shall call and hold a special 
election as above provided. 
SEC. 11. Term and Entitlements. - The term of office of the delegates shall 
be one (1) year after the effectivity of the Rules of the Constitutional Convention. The 
office of the delegate shall be without compensation and shall not be compatible with 
any other public office in the Government or any government-owned or controlled 
corporations or any of their subsidiaries: Provided, That every delegate shall be 
entitled to a per diem of Five Thousand Pesos (Php 5,000.00) for everyday of actual 
attendance in the Convention or in any of its committees: Provided, further, Each 
delegate shall be entitled to necessary traveling expenses to and from his place of 
residence when attending sessions of the Convention or any of its committees: 
Provided, finally, the delegates shall be allowed to hire the necessary technical and 
administrative staff or personnel to serve for the duration of the Constitutional 
Convention. 
SEC. 12. Rules and Quorum. - 
1. A majority of all delegates shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a 
smaller number may meet, adjourn from day to day, and compel the 
attendance of absent delegates in such matter and under such penalties as the 
Convention may provide. 
2. The Convention may determine the rules for the effective and efficient 
conduct of its purpose and proceedings, punish delegates for disorderly 
behavior, and with the concurrence of two-thirds (2/3) of all delegates suspend 
or expel a delegate. A penalty of suspension shall not exceed sixty (60) days. 


 
 
 
 
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3. The plenary sessions of the Convention, including the meetings of its 
committee, shall be public and duly recorded. It may hold its session in any 
place in the Philippines. 
4. The Convention shall conduct public hearings to ensure that the Filipino 
people will have adequate and sustained participation in the formulation of 
proposed amendments to the Constitution. 
5. The Convention shall keep a Journal of its proceedings and from time to time 
publish the same. The public shall have full access to the records of the 
proceedings of the Convention. 
The rules of the Constitutional Convention must be completed by the delegates of 
the Constitutional Convention within a period of thirty (30) days from the time the 
delegates take their oath. The rules shall be approved by a majority vote of all the 
elected delegates.  
SEC. 13. Parliamentary Immunity. - Laws relative to parliamentary 
immunity of Members of Congress shall be applicable to delegates of the Convention. 
SEC. 14. Administration and Technical Assistance. - All government 
entities, agencies and instrumentalities, including the Senate and the House of 
Representatives, shall place at the disposal of the Convention such personnel, 
premises, and furniture thereof as can, in their judgment, be spared without detriment 
to the public service, without cost, refund or additional pay. 
SEC. 15. Convention Report. -The convention shall submit its report to the 
President and the Congress of the Republic of the Philippines, and the Commission on 
Elections within thirty (30) days from the completion of the consolidated 
amendments. 
SEC. 16. Ratification. -The amendments to, or revisions of, the Constitution 
proposed by the Convention shall be valid when ratified by a majority of the votes 
cast in a plebiscite which shall be held not earlier than sixty (60) days nor later than 
ninety (90) days after the submission of the convention reports. 
SEC. 17. Appropriations. - The amount needed to initially implement the 
provisions of this Act shall be charged against the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations of 
the COMELEC for the holding of the elections. In case of deficiency, any savings 
generated from the budget of the COMELEC may be used to augment said 
appropriations. Thereafter, such sums as may be needed for its continued 
implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 


 
 
 
 
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SEC. 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in any newspaper of general circulation.  
 
 
 
Approved,