Amendments to the Charter
I agree with some Senators that convening Congress into a Constituent Assembly requires the concession of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. There should be a dialogue between the leadership of both houses in order to avoid further legal disputes. The Lower House cannot brush aside the Senate because the 1987 Constitution is very explicit as to the composition of Congress, i.e., the Senate and House of Representatives. Some senators have expressed openness and willingness for a Charter Change. This is a good sign for the country, both politically and economically. If the Charter Change materializes, we’ll definitely have a new form of government, hence, abolishing the Senate. This is probably the whole reason why some Senators have been reluctant for a Cha-Cha (no more honorary titles and pork barrel privileges for them).
First things first, if we adopt a Parliamentary form of government, then, qualifications for membership have to go with it. We have had enough ignoramuses in Congress and we cannot afford to have the same in the Parliament. The Constitution has rigid qualifications for the members of the Constitutional Commission (COMELEC, Ombudsman and Audit) and the Supreme Court, yet, the educational qualification and experience required by law for those running for President, Vice President and Congress are very elementary. As a result, we have had idiots in Congress and a high school drop out in the Executive department. The framers of the Constitution should fix this problem and mandate into law the qualifications for members of the Parliament.
We should get rid of a multi-party system and the party-list representatives because these make our political stage crowded with so many “billboards and clowns”. A two-party system is a good one so as to cultivate the culture of loyalty within the political party. The party-list is a waste of taxpayers’ money and exercise of “blind voting” on the part of the electorate. The voters don’t really know whom they’re voting for since they’re casting a vote on the party/organization. We have so many organizations lobbying for their agenda in Congress. With the party-list system, a couple of liberal groups have been formed who mostly use the streets to advance their neo-concept of patriotism (those who hates American flag in Subic and Clark, but, nonetheless love Ralph Lauren, Escada, Colehaan, Ford and Banana Republic). The party-list is probably responsible for the birth of neo-nationalists (those who abhor the idea of land ownership by foreign nationals). The party-list congressmen (although not all) are of the same “color” with our elected and district congressmen so we are just actually adding a “bunch of trash” into the supposedly sacred hall of Congress.
The amended Constitution should provide the term limits of the members of parliament, as well as fix the age requirement of parliamentarians, (our lawmakers are no longer congressmen but parliamentarians). This will ensure that no lawmaker can be in the parliament “en eternam”. I don’t think anybody wants to see some wheelchairs in the Parliament. Let’s give the young and energetic a chance to serve the people.
The federalization of the provinces is an excellent idea by Madam Glo (2006 SONA) and we should go for it. But, are we going to have national and provincial taxes too? Then, nothing will be left in the paycheck of our average workers.
Some suggested that there should be a ceremonial President and I beg to disagree. It is a waste of money and a nuisance leadership will only create more politicking in our government. If we opt for a President, are we going to retain the office of the Vice-President too? This is stupid, why do we have to waste our time and money by electing these two “monkeys” who will do nothing but sit in their “butt” while receiving a huge amount of money representing their salaries and allowances. This idea is bizarre and ridiculous. A poor country cannot have so many “overheads” in its treasury. We cannot elect “Her Royal Highness La Gloria” as queen; she is too short and small for the crown and throne.
In a nutshell, the members of the Constituent Assembly (if this is the method through which we are to amend the Constitution) must consider the following:
1. Abolish the Office of the President and Vice-President after the Prime Minister has been elected by the Parliament;
2. Set the qualification, age and term limit of the members of the Parliament;
3. Adopt a two-party system instead of a multi-party system and abolish the party-list representatives.
After fixing all these, the Parliament has to consider revising our criminal, civil and economic laws. There are so many things to be done and we don’t have the luxury of time for too much political debate. Let’s get down to business to save our mother country from economic malady. When our economy and the government are finally stable and we are no longer “the sick man of Asia” then we all could finally say, “How nice it is to live and retire in my own country”.