Panahon na kuno nga mag-usab na kita sa sistema

(Part 1)

Kini, suma ni Carmen Pedrosa sa iyang column sa Philippine Star. Matud niya, kini kunong nahitabo nga panagbangi tali ni kanhi Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano ug karon Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, nagpakita na usab sa panginahanglan pag-usab sa sistema ug istraktiyor sa atong pangagamhanan nga gipugos nganhi kanato sa America sa diha nga na-“independente” na kita.

Bitaw, kining atong pagpadagan sa atong gobiyerno, ang atong sistima, atong gibasi sa system ug structure sa gobiyerno sa America. Nakamatikod mo niini?

Suma pa, kining pagpaubos kanato sa unitary presidential system kondisyon kuno kini paghatag kanatong “independence” gikan sa America.

Hinumdoman nga ang “change is coming” ug ang pagpasiugda og halapad nga reform sa atong pangagamhanan maoy giingon nga essential component sa kampanya sa niaging presidential election.

Apan, matud ni Pedrosa: “There is no way he can achieve these reforms under the 1987 Cory Constitution.”

Busa, gikinahanglan gayud unta ang Charter Change nga maghimo kita’g atong kaugalingon nga Konstitusyon, kon mahimo dili kinahanglan ibasi sa Konstitusyuon sa ubang kanasuran. Apan naabtan ug na-overtaken kita sa mga dagkung events, hinungdan nga na-stalled o na-put on hold ang atong mga tinguha sa Charter change. Nadungagan sa pandemic, mao ra og maglisud na kita paghimong kausaban sa atong Batakang Balaud ug pagpahigayon sa federalismo.

Ni Pedrosa pa: “I was a member of the constitutional commission created by then president Gloria Arroyo and the consensus was for a parliamentary federal government.  So far Duterte has concentrated on the change from a unitary to federal government.”

Here are some of the highlights of the consensus of the Consultative Commission headed by Jose Abueva on the form of government on Oct. 17, 2005:

What’s wrong with our present presidential government? Why do we want to change it? (We have had presidential government since 1946 when we regained our independence from the United States, except under the Marcos dictatorship).

Separation of executive power of the president and legislative power of Congress (the Senate and the House of Representatives) causes intense rivalry and competition for power among them. Especially because, like the president, the 24 senators are elected nationwide.

Constant conflict and gridlock between the president and the House and the Senate, and too many congressional investigations, delay and obstruct legislation and reforms.

Because of the power of the media and cinema, candidates for president and the Senate are increasingly being elected for their personal popularity or “win-ability” and wealth rather than political leadership.

Rising cost of elections, especially national elections of president and senators, corrupt the system. It takes long to determine the results of nationwide elections without automation.

Because our political parties are weak, undemocratic, unstable and not program-oriented, our leaders and political parties cannot be held responsible and accountable to the people. With power diffused and the leadership fragmented, it is difficult to know who is responsible and accountable for the success or failure of governance.  —Sumpayan pa