The House Committee on Constitutional Reforms is not discouraged by the government’s stand that there will be no budget for the holding of a Constitutional Convention (Con-con) next year, with a senior panel member declaring that they will continue drawing the implementing law to convene the body.

Reacting to a statement of Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, committee vice chairman, said a supplemental budget measure should be expected to be passed by Congress if the bill pursuing a Con-con next year is passed.

“That is not a problem. Congress can easily pass a spending bill like it did on the automated election measure,” Aggabao said.

Andaya has disclosed that Malacañang has not included any proposed funding for the holding of elections for Con-con delegates in 2010.

“What’s included in the 2010 national budget is P10.5 billion for the Commission on Elections so it can administer the May general elections and the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataang elections sometime in October,” Andaya said.

Andaya stressed that the proposed P1.514 trillion General Appropriations Act for 2010 does not contain “a single centavo because there is no legal basis for such a need,” referring to the Concon elections.

“We cannot allocate based on speculations or conjectures or what ifs. The Con-con needs an enabling act and we would have become the poster boys for silliness if we had set aside money for a thing which has a little chance of happening at all, “ he said.

Andaya’s statements were taken by certain solons as a clear indication of Malacañang’s stand to continue pushing for House Joint Resolution No. 1109 seeking to convene Congress into a constituent assembly to amend the Charter.

Stung by accusations that they are party to an alleged Malacañang plan to lift the term limits of the President and other elected officials, lawmakers who had earlier supported HJR 1109 have started to adopt hands-off positions on the measure.

The House charter reforms panel approved last week a joint measure authorizing the conduct of a Con-con following the elections of delegates next year.

The adoption of the joint resolution has, in effect, shifted the Lower Chamber’s bid to amend the 1987 Constitution from the controversial constituent assembly to Con-con.

Aggabao said the panel is now studying the best schedule for the holding of the Con-con elections.

He revealed that the Commission on Elections has advised congressmen against opting to hold the proposed 2010 Con-con polls simultaneously with the national elections.

“Poll officials have cited valid reasons in asking us to support the holding of election of delegates simultaneously with the barangay polls in October, 2010,” Aggabao said at the Usaping Balita News Forum at Serye Café, Quezon City.

Aggabao also stressed that time is running out for the approval of a Con-con proposal which will require the Senate’s concurrence.