MANILA—If he gets the top House seat on July 22, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano wants to extend the term of office of lawmakers.

"It is not a political thing. It is a practical thing," he said Wednesday before a gathering of legislators.

Cayetano, who is President Rodrigo Duterte's choice for speakership in the 18th Congress, proposed to either lift or extend the term limits of House members.

"While we will push for federalism, I think there is a way that the Senate will agree that we push either for 4 years, no term limit or 5-years, 3-term limit," he said.

Cayetano said the 1987 Constitution, which allows members of the House of Representatives to serve a term of 3 years and no more than 3 consecutive terms, hinders the country's development.

"Bakit? You are elected in May. You take office in June. 'Yung 6 months you're still getting organized. Kung kalaban mo nakaupo, ubos na 'yung pondo. Di ba? Nage-explain ka pa sa tao bakit hindi mo nade-deliver lahat?" he said.

"Your budget starts in January. That's only 1 year. 2020. Because of 2021, everyone's thinking of 2022. Then the cycle starts again."

Cayetano clarified though he wants to implement the measure in the next Congress.

"Kanina may nagsabi na sa media, 'Si Alan is pushing for term extension'. Which is not true. Fifteen-21 na nga eh. Baka iniisip ng iba, gusto kong gawing 4 o 5 years para ma-extend din kami. Hindi po 'yun ang sinabi ko," he said.

If all goes according to plan in which he is supposed to serve only for 15 months, Cayetano wants to lead the most disruptive Congress the country has ever seen.

"Pagbigyan niyo ako, total 15 months lang ako. Ayoko umalis na failure. Gusto ko umalis na napaka-productive," he said.

"I'm asking all of you. Let us be the most disruptive Congress, in the sense that we disrupted the status quo and we can deliver more."