| Local
officials eye unicameral legislature
Local
officials are eyeing for the amendment of the 1987 Constitution
to shift the form of government to a unicameral legislature,
which they considered as the best system for a developing
country like the Philippines through a people’s initiative
that would be launched in March.
Bataan
Gov. Enrique Tet Garcia Jr. said the presidential form of
government will be maintained to uphold the right of the
voters to directly elect their chief executive because it
is the general sentiment of voters.
The
shift to merge the present two chambers of Congress into a
unicameral body is supported by the vast majority of Filipinos
who, according to local executives, have grown weary of legislative
gridlock.
Accordingly,
the conduct of the people’s initiative would strictly
adhere to the pronouncements of the Supreme Court and the
provisions of Republic Act 6735 and Commission on Elections
Resolution 7796.
The
proposal to change the present form of government from bicameral
presidential to unicameral presidential is considered as an
amendment to the Constitution as pronounced by the Supreme
Court in the case of Lambino vs. COMELEC.
The
facility of gathering the required number of signatures of
3 percent of the total registered voters per congressional
district based on COMELEC Resolution 7796 made this process
of amending the Constitution quite practical.
Analysts
say a people’s initiative would entail the least expense
compared to the other means of amending the Constitution,
such as a constituent assembly or a constitutional convention.
In
line with this, signature stations will be placed in every
legislative district nationwide where voters can sign up for
the proposal. The specific proposal for the amendment shall
be read in all radio stations so the people will fully understand
it while the text shall be written in English, Tagalog and
the local dialects. (PIA-MMIO)
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