Revolutionary Resolutions: How a Citizens' Convention is Proposing to Transform the Philippines from the Ground Up!

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Three proposed resolutions submitted to the Citizens' Constitutional Convention advocate for a significant restructuring of the Philippine government, specifically proposing a shift from the current unitary presidential system to a federal parliamentary republic. These resolutions aim to address issues such as corruption, lack of accountability, and hindrances to legislative effectiveness. The proposals draw inspiration from various democratic models, including those of European and Asian countries.

The Proposed Federal Parliamentary Structure

The resolutions collectively propose a new government structure with a bicameral legislature, a head of state (President), and a head of government (Prime Minister).

Legislative Branch Restructuring:

The proposed bicameral legislature would consist of two houses:

The Federal Assembly (Lower House): This body, also referred to as the Philippine Parliament, would restructure the existing House of Representatives or Congress. It would be elected through "general, free, direct, equal and secret elections".

The Federal Council (Upper House): This body would restructure the Senate and include members representing the federal state governments.

A joint committee would be established between the Federal Assembly and Federal Council, with two-thirds of the members provided by the Federal Assembly and one-third by the Federal Council.

The Executive Branch and Electoral System:

The resolutions outline distinct roles for the President and Prime Minister:

Federal President (Head of State): The President would be elected by a Federal Convention consisting of members from the Federal Council, Federal Assembly, and an equal number of members selected by state parliamentary assemblies. The President's term would be five years, with re-election permitted only once. The President would represent the nation internationally, appoint civil servants, grant pardons, and hold immunity.

Federal Prime Minister (Head of Government): The Prime Minister would be elected by the Federal Assembly. The Federal Government would consist of the Prime Minister and Federal Ministers. The Prime Minister would determine and be responsible for general guidelines, while Federal Ministers would independently manage their departments.

The proposed electoral system would shift from the current mixed system with plurality voting to a mixed-member proportional representation (MMPR). Under this system, voters would cast two votes: one for an individual district representative and one for a party per state.

Addressing Governance and Accountability

The resolutions emphasize the need for transparency, accountability, and competence within the government:

Judicial Oversight: A strong Constitutional Court would be empowered to review legislation for compliance with the Constitution and protection against bureaucratic approaches.

Abolition of Martial Law: One resolution explicitly proposes the abolition of martial law and the enactment of an "Emergencies Act" to prevent dictatorships.

Restructuring of Local Government: The proposals call for significant changes to local government units, including the abolition of the Barangay Government and the Local Government Code of 1991.

Abolition of Political Dynasties: The proposals aim to prohibit political dynasties and guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service.

Competence and Integrity in Legislation: One resolution introduces strict requirements for Assembly members, including at least five years of service in relevant fields, a clean record regarding dishonesty or fraud, public disclosure of financial and ethical backgrounds, and passing a qualifying examination on constitutional law, ethics, and legislative procedure.

These resolutions underscore a profound ambition to fundamentally reshape the political landscape of the Philippines, seeking to establish a system based on good governance, proportional representation, and pure democracy.

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