A party-list lawmaker has sought the creation of a three-man National Capital Commission that will study and recommend the transfer or non-transfer of the country’s national capital and permanent seat of the government.
In filing House Bill 110, party-list Rep. Gary Alejano recalled that since 1976, the City of Manila has been the national capital of the country and is also considered as the seat of the national government of the country.
However, Alejano said many government agencies still sit outside Manila City.
“Unfortunately, decades henceforth, population congestion along with the faulty drainage system still make Manila City a place with only little space left for development, Alejano said.
The former Marine officer said it is high time to review whether Manila City should be retained as the capital and the seat of the country’s national government to better administer government transactions and spur development in other areas of the country.
“Hence, it is imperative for Congress to create a National Capital Commission that will comprehensively study the potential of relocating and transferring of the national capital and permanent seat of the national government from Manila City, Alejano said.
Alejano said capital relocation has been a notable act among countries to encourage development in a seemingly underdeveloped region.
A premier example of this, he said, is Brasilia, which experienced rapid growth after its establishment as Brazil’s capital.
“Brazil’s capital change from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia in 1961 was considered very successful, and many countries have been inspired by Brazil’s capital relocation achievement, Alejano said.
In his proposal, Alejano said the proposed National Capital Commission will be composed of three commissioners appointed by the President of the Republic and that P100 million shall be allocated for the purpose and sourced from the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
It shall be the mandate of the Commission to study and recommend the transfer or non-transfer of the national capital and permanent seat of the Philippine government.
The Commission shall organize its Secretariat that will provide administrative and technical support for the agency. The Commission and its Secretariat shall hold office in such venue as the agency may deem appropriate.
It shall be authorized to create technical committees and designate members thereof, and may engage the assistance of experts and professional advisers subject to government rules and regulations.
The Commission shall complete its work not later than two years from the date of approval of the proposed Act. It shall submit to the President a report of the work it undertook, together with its corresponding recommendations.
In case of a recommendation not to transfer the national capital and seat of government of the Republic, the Commission shall then submit its recommendation on how to improve the existing state of affairs in Manila City to promote more effective and efficient government service and enable Manila City to meet the challenges of serving as national capital and seat of government in the decades to come.
Upon completion of its work and the submission of its report not later than two years from enactment of the law, the Commission shall cease to exist and the services of the Commissioners and members of the Secretariat and Technical Committees shall terminate.
