Parliamentary system is way to go
Posted on March 7, 2007 - Filed Under Punch Forum |
Rafael L. Oriel, Jr.
7 Mar 07
The only way we can predict a better future for our beloved Philippines is by creating it. Filipinos who are for better Philippines must be the maker of the destiny of the country and its people.
Political party system must be made stronger so that the people can elect government officials based on the political parties’ visions to where the nation needs to go. National political parties must be established, controlled and owned by the people and not by private individuals or political big shots. Political party membership must be open to all citizens including the youths so that those who are qualified and wanted to serve the country as politicians and who will be running under the banner of a political party will be chosen by the people and not by political bigwigs alone.
Filipinos must be given opportunities to actively participate at the political party level so that our visions for the country and its people will be fully included in the political parties’ platforms and our choices in the selection of candidates who will be running during elections will be fully taken into considerations. We must let Philippine People’s Power work in a very democratic way and under the rule of law within a strong political party system. It will just be a waste of precious time and energy for us to be asking or keep on arguing why our beloved Philippines is not a better or best place compared to other countries.
The question we must ask ourselves as Filipinos is how we can make it better or the best. Those who are in complete denial of the realities in life will have a hard time accepting the fact that there are so many things that need to be changed in order for the country to be able to compete against other countries in today’s global economy. If we are waiting for things to change, things simply won't get any better on their own. For our nation to move forward, Filipinos as a united group in the true Philippine tradition of Bayanihan spirit must initiate and accomplish to change the things that need to be changed and no matter what, we need to start somewhere.
A good move in the right direction is the proposed Charter Change (Cha-Cha) to replace the government system to a more economical, efficient and productive federal, unicameral parliamentary system where the representatives of the people, members of the cabinet, legislative and executive bodies are all elected as Members of the Parliament.
One good feature of the proposed new government system is the separation of the head of state and the head of the government. Parliamentary system will not solve all the problems that the country is currently facing but it is a good way to start in moving the country and its people forward.
At least, the shift will level the playing field and/or the political arena to give equal or better opportunities to those who are not celebrities or financially rich or super rich because elections of national government officials will be localized and ultimately, only the best or top of the crop will be sent by the localities to represent them in the national assembly called Parliament in the same way that Olympians are sent to represent a country in the worldwide Olympic competitions.
Only those who have the potential to excel in representing the interest of other people will be given the vote of confidence by the electorate because he or she is going to represent them in the competitive world of the National Parliament. If their representatives cannot deliver the expectations of the voters then they have no other choice but to replace those who are incompetent with somebody else who can do better.
A good parliamentary system of government is the one wherein corrupt and incompetent politicians and political parties are not rewarded but punished in their political careers and futures. Filipinos must be able to easily cut short the term of services of these useless government officials.
On the other hand, Filipinos must be able to avail of longer public services from those who are excellent public servant. As a result, politicians and political parties who are competent and not corrupt are rewarded and not punished but recognized and honored just like Gold Medalist and triumphant Olympians, the pride and honor of the people they represent.
This is just a humble suggestion, an opinion to ponder with the hope that somebody else can suggest a better way for us Filipinos to win the future for the sake of the country and its people.
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