House resolution seeks to lower minimum age requirement for president, VP, senators
A new resolution has been filed in the House of Representatives seeking to amend the 1987 Constitution to lower the minimum age requirements for the country's highest elected offices.
The resolution, introduced by Reps. Paolo Ortega, Jay Khonghun, Ernix Dionisio, Zia Adiong, Rodge Gutierrez, Lordan Suan, and Eduardo Rama, propose to reduce the eligibility age for president and vice president to 35 and for senator to 30.
Currently, the president and vice president must be at least 40 years old on the day of the election. Meanwhile, senators are required to be at least 35.
The authors noted that the Philippines has experienced significant demographic and social changes, with over 52% of its population now under 30 years old.
"The Filipino youth are globally competitive, socially aware, and capable of national leadership, as demonstrated by their significant roles in public service, innovation, civil society, and local governance," the resolution read.
Likewise, the lawmakers said that this reform would "strengthen youth representation, [promote] intergenerational leadership, and [embody] a spirit of inclusivity and empowerment for the next generation of leaders."
It also pointed to other democracies, such as the US, which requires a 35-year-old minimum age for its president.
To enact these changes, the lawmakers called for a Constitutional Convention, in which delegates from various fields will oversee proposals.
If adopted by the convention, these changes to Articles VI, Section 3, and Article VII, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution would then be subject to ratification by a plebiscite.
According to Article VI, Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution, the requirements to be a senator include the following: must be natural-born citizens of the Philippines; at least 35 years old on election day; able to read and write; registered voters; and Philippine residents for at least two years before election day.
Meanwhile, Article VII Section 2 said that an aspiring president of the country must be a natural-born citizen of the Philippines; a registered voter; able to read and write; at least 40 years of age on the day of the election, and a resident of the Philippines for at least ten years immediately preceding such election.
The Vice President, on the other hand, shall also have the same qualifications and term of office and be elected with, and in the same manner, as the president.
