MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte’s Consultative Committee (Con-Com) is gearing up to present its draft federal constitution to various cities in the Philippines starting on June 17.

The Con-Com presented its initial schedule for regional consultations on Thursday, June 7, during a press briefing.

Below is the schedule, which will be regularly updated as the Con-Com sends more details: 

• June 17 to 19 – Dumaguete City
• June 21 to 23 – Butuan City and Legazpi City
• June 25 to 27 – Baguio City and Tacloban City

This is not the final list of cities to be visited, said Con-Com spokesman Conrado Generoso.

They chose this initial batch of cities because of practicality.

These were the cities, that, often through the help of a Con-Com member who hails from the province, have been able to mobilize the fastest for the consultations.

“It appears that the most ready to start right away are these 5 cities. Since we are ready to start, there are organizations, local officials who are ready, who have been informed and are just waiting for a date, we agreed to just start there,” said Generoso.

He added that they plan to expand the number of cities they will visit.

The Con-Com is targeting to wrap up the consultations in time for its submission of the complete draft charter to the President on July 9.

Only 3 articles now remain to be finalized – articles on federated regions, transitory provisions, and amendments. Generoso said the goal is to finalize these by June 14.

This should give Malacañang some two weeks to read and analyze the draft constitution before Duterte’s 3rd State of the Nation Address on July 23. – Rappler.com