1. There shall be, in lieu of the interim National Assembly, an interim
Batasang Pambansa. Members of the interim Batasang Pambansa which
shall not be more than 120, unless otherwise provided by law, shall
include
the incumbent President of the Philippines, representatives elected
from
the different regions of the nation, those who shall not be less than
eighteen
years of age elected by their respective sectors, and those chosen by
the
incumbent President from the Members of the Cabinet. Regional
representatives
shall be appointed among the regions in accordance with the number of
their
respective inhabitants and on the basis of a uniform and progressive
ratio,
while the sectors shall be determined by law. The number of
representatives
from each regions or sector and the manner of their election shall be
prescribed
and regulated by law
2. The interim Batasang Pambansa shall have the same powers and its
Members
shall have the same functions, responsibilities, rights, privileges,
and
disqualifications as the interim National Assembly and the regular
National
Assembly and the Members thereof
3. The incumbent President of the Philippines shall, within 30 days
from
the election and selection of the Members, convene the interim Batasang
Pambansa and preside over its sessions until the Speaker shall be the
Prime
Minister and he shall continue to exercise all his powers even after
the
interim Batasang Pambansa is organized and ready to discharge its
functions,
and likewise he shall continue to exercise his powers and prerogatives
under the 1935 Constitution and the powers and prerogatives under the
1935
Constitution and the powers vested in the President and the Prime
Minister
under this Constitution.
4. The President (Prime Minister) and his Cabinet shall exercise all
the
powers and functions, and discharge the responsibilities of the regular
President (Prime Minister) and his Cabinet, and shall be subject only
to
such disqualifications as the President (Prime Minister) may prescribe.
The President (Prime Minister), if he so desires, may appoint a Deputy
Prime Minister or as many Deputy Prime Ministers as he may deem
necessary.
5. The incumbent President shall continue to exercise legislative
powers
until martial law shall have been lifted
6. Whenever in the judgment of the President (Prime Minister), there
exists
a grave emergency or a threat or imminence thereof, or whenever the
interim
Batasang Pambansa or the regular National Assembly fails or is unable
to
act adequately on any matter for any reason that in his judgment
requires
immediate action, he may, in order to meet the exigency, issue the
necessary
decrees, orders, or letters of instructions, which shall form part of
the
law of the land.
7. The barangays and sanggunians shall continue as presently
constituted
but their functions, powers, and composition may be altered by law.
Referenda conducted through the barangays and under the supervision of
the Commission on Elections may be called at any time the Government
deems
it necessary to ascertain the will of the people regarding any
important
matter, whether of national or local interest.
8. All provisions of this Constitution not inconsistent with any of
these
amendments shall continue in full force and effect.
9. These amendments shall take effect after the incumbent President
shall
have proclaimed that they have been ratified by a majority of the votes
cast in the referendum-plebiscite.
[The
afore-quoted amendments were ratified in the referendum-plebiscite held
on October 16-17, 1976, and were proclaimed in full force and effect as
of October 27, 1976, under Proclamation No. 1595 issued by President
Ferdinand
E. Marcos].
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