The procedure for amending the 1987 Philippine Constitution via People’s Initiative is outlined in Article XVII, Section 2 of the Constitution, and further governed (though imperfectly) by Republic Act No. 6735 (The Initiative and Referendum Act).

Here is a step-by-step breakdown:

—

## 📜 Constitutional Basis

Article XVII, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution:

“Amendments to this Constitution may likewise be directly proposed by the people through initiative upon a petition of at least twelve percent (12%) of the total number of registered voters, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least three percent (3%) of the registered voters therein.”

“No amendment under this section shall be authorized within five years following the ratification of this Constitution nor oftener than once every five years thereafter.”

“The Congress shall provide for the implementation of the exercise of this right.”

—

## 🪪 Legal Framework: Republic Act No. 6735

This law provides for the process of initiative and referendum. However, in *Santiago v. COMELEC* (1997), the Supreme Court ruled that R.A. 6735 is inadequate to cover constitutional amendments by initiative. This decision has never been fully overturned, though *Lambino v. COMELEC* (2006) discussed further limitations.

Still, here’s the generally followed process, assuming enabling law and procedure are accepted:

—

## ✅ Step-by-Step Procedure

### 1. Drafting the Proposed Amendment

* Citizens must prepare a complete and specific text of the proposed constitutional amendment(s). * Only amendments (not full revisions) can be proposed via people’s initiative.

### 2. Signature Gathering

* Obtain signatures from at least 12% of all registered voters nationwide. * Every legislative district must have signatures from at least 3% of its registered voters. * Signatures must be accompanied by voter’s full name, signature, address, and valid ID or voter’s ID reference.

### 3. Verification by COMELEC

* The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) verifies the authenticity of the signatures. * COMELEC ensures that the required percentages are met per district and nationwide.

### 4. Filing the Petition

* Once verified, the petition (with full text of the proposal and voter signatures) is filed with the COMELEC. * COMELEC then prepares for a plebiscite.

### 5. Holding a Plebiscite

* The plebiscite must be held not earlier than 60 days and not later than 90 days after COMELEC certification. * The proposed amendment is considered ratified if it receives a majority of votes cast in the plebiscite.

—

## ⚠️ Key Legal Challenges

* Santiago v. COMELEC (1997) ruled that R.A. 6735 is inadequate for constitutional amendments via initiative. So, legally, there is still no fully sufficient enabling law. * Lambino v. COMELEC (2006) ruled that a people’s initiative must contain the full text of the proposed amendment at the time of signature collection. Failure to do so makes the petition invalid. * People’s initiative cannot propose a revision, only an amendment (i.e., specific, limited changes—not structural overhaul).

—

## 🧠 Summary Table