THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S.NO. 
2247 
Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution grants the people the right to propose amendments to the 
Constitution via people’s initiative, but Congress must provide for the implementation of the 
exercise of this right. In a previous attempt to propose an amendment to the Constitution 
lifting the term limits of all elective government officials, the Supreme Court declared that 
Republic Act No. 6735, the Initiative and Referendum Act, is insufficient to implement the 
axercise of this right (Santiago vs. COMELEC, G.R. No. 127325, March 27, 1997). 
Since no law has yet been passed by Congress, the same situation in Santiago vs. 
COMELEC, supra holds true at present and any attempt to propose amendments to the 
Constitution via people’s initiative will only be futile absent an enabling law. The Supreme 
Court said that this must thus be acted upon by Congress to fill this void as “the system of 
initiative to propose amendments to the Constitution should no longer be kept in the cold; it 
should be given flesh and blood, energy and strength.” 
Before there can be a valid people’s initiative to propose amendments to the 
:-Gonstitution, Congress must first provide for a sufficient enabling law to implement the 
exercise of this right, which is what this bill seeks to do. 
1 
RICHARD J. GORDON 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S.No. 
2247 
Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A SYSTEM OF PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE TO PROPOSE 
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION 
Be if enacted by the Senate and the House of Represenfafives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Initiative on the 
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Constitution Act.” 
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this right. 
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provisions of the Constitution. 
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the Constitution. 
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: with Sec. 5 of this Act. 
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rejected by the people. 
Sec. 2. Policy. -Article XVII, Section 2 of the Constitution grants the people, through 
initiative upon a petition of at least twelve per centurn (12%) of the total number of 
registered voters, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three 
per centurn (3%) of the registered voters therein, the right to directly propose amendments 
to the Constitution in which Congress shall provide for the implementation of the exercise of 
Sec. 3. Definifions. - For purposes of this Act, 
(1) “Amendment” refers to an alteration of one or a few specific and isolated 
(2) “COMELEC refers to the Commission on Elections. 
(3) “People‘s Initiative” refers to the power of the people to propose amendments to 
(4) “Petition” refers to the written instrument of a people’s initiative in accordance 
(5) “Petitioner” refers to a signatory to a petition for people’s initiative who must be a 
registered voter in the Philippines. 
(6) “Plebiscite” refers to the electoral process by which a proposition is approved or 


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(7) “Proponent” refers to a registered voter in ,? legislative district principally 
advocating a proposition and certifying that the petitioners in a petition for people’s initiative 
knowingly, freely, and voluntarily support the same. 
the people in a people’s initiative. 
of provisions in the Constitution. 
(8) “Proposition” refers to the particular amendment to the Constitution proposed by 
(9) “Revision” refers to an alteration of the entire Constitution or an important cluster 
Sec. 4. Who May Exercise. - People’s initiative may be exercised by all registered 
voters in the Philippines. 
Sec. 5. Requirements. - A petition for people’s initiative must have at least twelve 
per cenfum (12%) of the total number of registered voters as signatories, of which every 
legislative district must be represented by at least three per cenfum (3%) of the registered 
voters therein, People’s Initiative may be exercised only once every five (5) years. 
The COMELEC shall prescribe the form for a petition for people’s initiative, which 
shall include the following: 
(1) The contents or text of the proposed provisionls of the Constitution sought to be 
(2) The proposition; 
(3) The reasonls for the proposition, not exceeding one thousand (1,000) words; 
(4) Proof that public hearings and consultations were held in each legislative district 
amended; 
to ensure that the people have been properly informed of the proposition; 
(5) Statement under oath by a proponent in each legislative district that the 
petitioners in his or her legislative district knowingly, freely, and voluntarily support the 
proposition; and 
(6) Names, addresses, and signatures of the petitioners. 
Sec. 6. Prohibifed Proposition. - No petition for people’s initiative covering more than 
one (1) proposed amendment to the Constitution or amounting to a revision of the 
Sonstitution shall be allowed. 
Sec. 7. Penal Provision. - A petition for people’s initiative filed with the COMELEC 
that violates any provision of this Act shall be dismissed by the COMELEC and the 
proponents thereof shall be punished with the penalty of imprisonment ranging from one (1) 
year to six (6) years, or a fine ranging from one hundred thousand pesos (PhP100,OOO) to 


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six hundred thousand (PhP600,000), or both, without prejudice to administrative, criminal, 
and civil liability under other laws. 
Sec. 8. Verification 
and Authentication of Signatures. - Upon order by the 
COMELEC of the apparent adequacy of a petition for people's initiative within thirty (30) 
days from receipt thereof, the COMELEC shall verify and authenticate the signatures 
thereon. 
After the signatures have been verified and authenticated, 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 filing of the appropriate protest or 
challenge within the same period. Any protest or challenge to the verification and 
authentication of the signatures shall be ruled upon by the COMELEC within sixty (60) days 
from the date of filing such protest or challenge. Upon resolution of the protests and 
challenges filed, if any, the COMELEC shall issue a certification on the sufficiency of the 
petition for people's initiative. 
Sec. 9. Publication of Proposition. - Upon certification by the COMELEC of the 
sufficiency of the petition for people's initiative, the COMELEC shall immediately publish the 
proposition in English and Filipino at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the 
Philippines. 
Sec. 10. Plebiscite. A Plebiscite shall be held not earlier than sixty (60) days nor 
later than ninety (90) days after the certification by the COMELEC of the sufficiency of the 
petition for people's initiative. 
Sec. 11. Effectivity of Proposition. - The proposition contained in the petition for 
people's initiative shall be effective when ratified by a majority of the votes cast in a 
plebiscite. 
Sec. 12. Applicability of the Omnibus Election Code. - The Omnibus Election Code 
and other election laws, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, shall apply to this 
Act. 
Sec. 13. Rules and Regulations. - The COMELEC shall promulgate rules and 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
Sec. 14. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to defray the cost of the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the Contingent Fund in the General 
Appropriations Act of the current year. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the 
full implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 


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Sec. 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly, 
Sec. 16. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain 
in force and effect. 
Sec. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the 
completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation in the Philippines. 
Approved,