THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPn\sES 
Introduced by Senator Luisa “LO?’ P. Ejercito Estrada 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article 17, Section 2 of the Constitution provides for a new and untried method of 
introducing amendments to the Constitution. This method is done through what is called 
“people’s initiative.” The section reads, “Congress shall provide for the implementation 
of the exercise of this right.” 
The existing law, R.A. 6735 (the Initiative and Referendum Act) governs only 
It is silent as to people’s initiative for 
people’s initiative for local legislation. 
constitutional amendments. 
This silence on the part of R.A. 6735 necessitates the passage of a law that will 
govern the process by which constitutional amendments are introduced by the people 
directly through people’s initiative. 
In view hereof, the early passage of the bill is earnestly requested 
LUISA 
ESTRADA 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) -cd 
~~~~ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
1 
Qi 
:.A* 
, - ”  I 
S E N A T G  
S.B.No. 11 
E l i ’  
Introduced by Senator Luisa “Lo?’ P. Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR PEOPLE’S INITIATNE TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. 
Title. - This Act shall be known as the “People’s Initiative to Amend 
the Constitution Act .” 
Section 2. Statement of Policy. - Amendments to the Constitution may be 
directly proposed by the people through initiative upon a petition of at least twelve per 
centum (12%) of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative district 
must be represented by at least three per centum (3%) of the registered voters therein. 
Section 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
“People’s Initiative” is the process by which the people are empowered to 
propose amendments to a constitution upon compliance with constitutional 
and legal requirements; 
“Amendment” - envisages an alteration of one or a few specific 
provisions of the Constitution which do not affect the functioning of the 
other constitutional provisions not so amended. The guiding original 
intention of an amendment is to improve specific parts or to add new 
provisions deemed necessary to meet new conditions or to suppress 
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specific portions that may have become obsolete or are judged to be 
dangerous. 
The term “amendment” should be distinguished from “revision” 
which imports an alteration of the basic constitutional structure or at least 
an alteration which radically affects the hnctioning of various parts or 
agencies within the Constitutional structure. In revision, the guiding 
original intention and plan contemplates a reexamination of the entire 
document to determine how and to what extent it should be altered; 
(c) 
(d) 
“Proposition” is the proposed amendments to the Constitution; 
“Petition” is the written instrument containing the proposition and the 
required number of signatories in a form determined by and submitted to 
the 
Commission 
on Elections, hereinafier referred to as the 
“Commission”; 
“Plebiscite” is the electoral process by which the proposition to amend the 
Constitution shall be approved or rejected by the people. 
(e) 
Section 4. Requirements. - (a) Amendments to the constitution may be directly 
proposed by the people through initiative upon a petition of at least twelve per centzim 
(12%) of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative district must be 
represented by at least three per centzim (3%) of the total number of registered voters 
therein. No amendment of the Constitution through a people’s initiative shall be held 
oRener than once every five years thereafter. 
(b) 
The petition shall be signed before the Election Registrar, or hidher 
designated representative, in the presence of a representative of the 
proponents and the oppositors in a public place in the barangay of the 
municipality, city or legislative district. 
Signature stations may be 
established in as many places as may be warranted; 
(c) 
The petition on the people’s initiative shall be submitted to the 
Commission, and shall state the following: 
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1. 
2. 
The names and signatures of the petitioners or registered voters; 
The barangay and 
which the petitioners belong to; 
The text of the amendment of the Constitution or any part thereof 
sought to be proposed; 
The reason or reasons thereoc 
An abstract or summary of the proposition, printed on top of each and 
every page of the petition; 
Proof that public hearings and consultations were held in each of the 
legislative districts to ensure that the people are properly informed on 
the amendments proposed. 
the city, municipality or legislative district to 
3. 
4. 
5 .  
6. 
(d) 
The Commission, through its office in the local government unit 
concerned, shall certifjr as to whether or not the required number of 
signatures has been obtained. Failure to obtain the required number of 
signatures is a defeat of the proposition; 
After the Commission finds that the petition has complied with the above 
requirements, it shall then proceed with the verification and authentication 
of the signatures of the registered voters contained therein. Accredited 
watchers from both the proponents and oppositors shall be present and 
allowed to observe the process of verification and authentication; 
(e) 
(0 
After the signatures shall have been veritied by the Commission the same 
shall be posted in the barangay hall of each of the legislative district for at 
least sixty (60) days to allow interested parties to examine the same and 
allow the filling of the necessary protest or to challenge to the 
authentication within the same period. Any challenge or protest shall be 
ruled upon within sixty (60) days fi-om the date of filing of such protest or 
challenge; 
(8) 
The Commission shall issue a certification on the sufficiency of the 
petition upon the resolution of all protest and challenges filed. 
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Section 5. Appeal. - The Decision of the Commission on the findings of the 
sufficiency or insufficiency of the petition may be appealed to the Supreme Court within 
thirty (30) days from the notice thereof, provided, that this provision shall be effective 
only upon the advice and concurrence of the Supreme Court in accordance with the 
Constitution, Article 6, Section 30. 
Section 6. Special Registration. - There shall be special registration of voters at 
least forty five (45) days before the scheduled plebiscite for those who will attain fifteen 
(15) to eighteen (18) years of age on the date of the scheduled plebiscite. Two separate 
lists of those age ranges from fifteen (15) to seventeen (17). The second list consists of 
those who would have attained eighteen (1 8) years of age on the day of plebiscite. 
Section 7. Verification of Signatures. - The Election Registrar shall veri@ the 
signatures on the basis of the registry list of voters, voter’s affidavit and voters 
identification cards used in the immediately preceding election. 
Section 8. Conduct and Date of Initiative of Refeendum - The Commission 
shall call and supervise the conduct of the plebiscite on the people’s initiative. 
Within a period of thirty (30) days from the certification of the sufficiency of the 
petition, the Commission shall publish the same in Filipino and English at least three (3) 
times in a newspaper of general and local circulation and set the date of the plebiscite on 
the initiative, which shall be held not earlier than sixty (60) days nor later than ninety 
(90) days after the certification of the sufficiency of the petition. 
Section 9. Authority of the Courts. - Nothing in. this Act shall prevent or 
preclude the proper courts from declaring null and void any proposition approved 
pursuant to this Act for violation of the Constitution. 
Section 10. Effectivity of the Constitutional Amendments. - Any amendment 
proposed by people’s initiative shall be valid and effective when ratified by a majority of 
the votes cast in a plebiscite which will be held not earlier than sixty (60) days nor later 
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than ninety (90) days after the certification by the Commission on Elections of the 
sufficiency of the petition. 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
Section 11. 
Applicability of the Omnibus Election Code. - The Omnibus 
Election Code and other election laws not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
shall be applicable. 
Section 12. Rules and Regulations. - The Commission on Election is hereby 
empowered to promulgate such rules and regulations as many be necessary to carry out 
the purposes of this Act. 
Section 13. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to defray the cost of the 
people’s initiative as prescribed in this Act shall be charged against the Contingent Fund 
in the General Appropriations Act of the year when the initiative is to be conducted. 
Thereafter, the sums necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act. 
Section 14. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions thereof shall remain valid and 
effective. 
Section 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, proclamation, rules 
and regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with he provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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Section 16. Effectivity CZause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approveed, 
GVL/siee billsl violet disk/amend the constitzition 
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