This document discusses past attempts at charter change in the Philippines and reasons they failed. It notes that almost every administration since martial law has proposed charter change. Past efforts failed because they were seen as ways for presidents to extend their terms rather than due to a lack of merit in the proposed amendments. Specific failed attempts discussed include those under President Erap, Gloria Arroyo, and a PDP-Laban proposal. Skepticism of charter change comes from the misuse of constitutional amendments under Marcos.

1. A PERSONAL VIEW ON
THE DRAFT
CHARTER
By: Rodolfo “RV” Vicerra*
* Former Director-General, Congressional Planning and Budget Office, House of Representatives

2. Other Areas of Concern
qCosts of
Shifting to
Federalism
Ø Choose a relevant year
Ø Refer to www.dbm.gov.ph
for BESF or GAA
§ Senate or House Budget ÷
No. of Members
§ SC or Sandigan÷ No. of
Members
§ OP Total Budget ÷ No. of
Regions
Ø Apply to the approved or
contemplated additions in
the bureaucracy: RL, REC,
RSC.
Budgets for 2017
(PhP '000)
Personnel
Services
Maintenance
Other OpEx
Capital
Outlay Fin Expense Total
Senate of the Phils. 2,302,509 1,813,302 0 0 4,115,811
House of Reps. 4,136,741 4,801,085 0 0 8,937,826
Office of the President 747,051 2,282,774 660 0 3,030,485
Supreme-Court 1,775,480 2,352,407 1,393,724 0 5,521,611
Court-of-Appeals 1,361,504 444,372 3,600 0 1,809,476
Sandiganbayan 357,079 140,968 2,625 0 500,672

3. Current 2019 P600 B P3.7 Trillion 16.2%

4. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
84% OF THE BUDGET
16% OF THE BUDGET
Two layers of A SYSTEMIC DYSFUNCTION
No effective organizational reach to final clients/beneficiaries
84% OF THE BUDGET
Effective presence but limited resources and capable manpower to implement programs.

5. READER ON CHARTER CHANGE
Charter Amendment Efforts and
Areas of Concern
People’s
Initiative for
Reform,
Modernizati
on and
Action
(PIRMA)
President
Erap -
Constitutiona
l Correction
for
Development
(Concord)
Senate
Joint
Resolution
No. 10
(2003) -
Nene
Pimentel
Draft
Constitutiona
l
Consultative
(Abueva)
Commission
- President
Gloria Arroyo
PDP-Laban
Federalism
Institute
Draft
Version 1.0
Consultative
Committee
Bayanihan
Draft
People's
Draft
Resolution
15 of Both
Houses
Parliamentary Form of Gov’t. P P P P x P x
Unicameral Legislature P x P x x P x
Federalism - Regional Gov'ts P P P P P P
Political and Electoral
Reforms P P P
2 Party
System
Proposed Economic Reforms P P P P P
Except
Lands,
Utilities
Mode of Amending the
Constitution
People's
Initative
Constituent
Assembly
Constituent
Assembly
Constituent
Assembly
Constituent
Assembly
Constituent
Assembly
Constituen
t Assembly
Constituen
t Assembly
Lifting Term Limits P x x x x
Changing Term of Office x P P P P P P

6. LOOK BACK: Past Charter Change attempts and why they failed.
Charter Change has been brought up by almost every administration since Martial Law
Sofia Tomacruz, https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/flashback/193825-past-attempts-charter-change-
philippines-failed
“Our skepticism is rooted in the
Marcos era where the dictator used
constitutional change to duck term
limits. Since that trust was betrayed,
politicians have not earned our
respect.” Dante Gatmaytan –
Professor, U.P. College of Law
“The reason the many attempts of Congress
or groups to change the 1987 Constitution
failed is not by reason of intrinsic merit. It is
because the attempts were viewed as
nothing but veiled attempts to extend the
term of office of the President. That is the
simple reason.” Retired Supreme Court (SC)
Justice Vicente Mendoza
“The president (Arroyo) decided to push for
only one amendment: to change our
presidential government with a bicameral
congress to a parliamentary government
that would be unicameral. She dropped our
proposal to change our unitary republic into
a federal republic and to liberalize the
nationalistic provisions on foreign
participation in our economy.“ – Dr. Jose
Abueva

7. Other Areas of Concern
qHow to maximize the
accountabilities of
public servants.
Ø People’s participation in planning,
budgeting and monitoring
Ø Power to stop implementation of
tainted projects
Ø Obligatory reporting on the web
Ø Town hall meetings
Ø Integrity Circles
Ø Developing Regional / Provincial level
Policy Research capabilities
Ø Stronger links between press and
policy researchers / experts
v SALN’s
v Anti-Graft and
Corrupt Practices Act
(R.A. 3019)
v Code of Conduct and
Ethical Standards for
Public Officials and
Employees (R.A.6713)
v Administrative Code
of 1987 (E.O.297)
v Impeachment

8. [All I want is Federalism]
Remove the
complexities of
Chacha.
One at a time.
Focus for faster
achievement of the
promised reforms.
FEDERALISM – NOW
NA!
The principle of subsidiarity
must be accorded with
highest respects. We need
to trust our people more.
With resources to help
enhance their capacities,
citizens can greatly assist in
extracting accountabilities
from regional and local
leaders.