Thursday, April 06, 2006
Mayor favors specific amendments in Charter
DAGUPAN City Mayor Benjamin Lim on Wednesday underscored the need to explain to the people the proposed parliamentary-unicameral form of government while noting he favors amending some provisions in the Constitution, "but not the entire Charter."
Lim revealed his stand, along with representatives of barangays and various sectors, on the proposal to shift the present presidential form to parliamentary-unicameral system during a forum on Charter amendment initiated by the Advocacy Commission held at the City Museum on March 22.
"I personally believe that a change of some provisions in the Constitution has to be done. However, the proposal to change the system of government has to be explained to the people," he said.
He suggested a separate forum in a form of debate to better determine the pros and cons of a parliamentary form of government.
The mayor disagreed with the line that a parliamentary system of government means a graft-free bureaucracy. He said the countries that practice such form of government, like Japan and Korea, have also cases of graft and corruption in their respective governments.
"However, once an anomaly was discovered with this form of government, all people comprising it can be sacked without resulting in coup d' etat or whatsoever," he said.
Another advantage of parliamentary form of government, Lim said, is the existence of one legislative body in which the usual discord between the House and the Senate will be eliminated.
Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez, Presidential constitutional commissioner, said the proposed amendment in the Constitution is only to change the present system of government in the country.
Fernandez said the proposal to shift to parliamentary form of government will liberate the country from costly presidential election campaigns. He also said when the Philippine government becomes parliamentary, the existing Congressional districts will be converted into parliamentary districts which will elect the members of the parliament.
"However, the parliament will not be composed of elected people only, but also appointed members who are representing certain party-list sectors like persons with disabilities, farmers, fishers, transportation, among other sectors," he said.
The parliament, composed of some 300 members, will elect its speaker who will act as the presiding officer, according to the vice mayor.
Later on, Fernandez said, the parliament members will elect the president of the country and the prime minister, who will govern the country and at the same time head the different ministries, which is called the departments at present.
He said the duty of the president in a parliamentary form of government is to handle all foreign visitors and inform other nations of the national policies in the country aside from managing investments. (Pangasinan Star/Sunnex)
(April 6, 2006 issue)
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