I WONDER if anyone (besides me) has ever come with the idea of electing our senators on a per region basis. The way I see it, we can elect 2 senators per region (not sure about the autonomous ones, though). True, it would increase the number of senators we currently have, but I’ve been thinking of several advantages to this system.
For one, the Senate membership will truly be representative of the entire country. As it stands now, majority of our senators are from Luzon, with a sprinkling coming from the Visayas and Mindanao. This will give regions outside Imperial Manila a chance to be adequately represented in the Senate.
Second, it reduces the expenses to be shouldered by the candidates, from the actual campaign to the number of watchers they will require, as they would focus their resources in their specific regions rather than the entire country. Less expenses might encourage more deserving but financially-handicapped candidates to come forth and throw their hats in the political arena.
It would speed up the canvassing of votes, as the winning candidates can be proclaimed on a regional level rather than on a national level. This “might” also reduce the chances and the scope of dagdag-bawas, making it easier to detect.
In the United States, only the presidential/vice-presidential race is conducted on a national level. Their senators are elected per state. It should make sense that our senators also be elected at most on a regional level. It should make the candidates more mindful of their constituents in their respective regions.
Just my two centavos’ worth…
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August 11th, 2007 at 4:19 am
Upon reading the 59 comments below, i must say that we really need to change our Constitution! Dissolve both houses of congress - the senate and the house of representatives and fused them into one!
I am for a federal parliamentary form of government. Too much bureaucracy in our country is not anymore beneficial. It’s been 20 years since the 1987 Post-Martial period but still the Philippines is at its lowest.
In the parliament, we have the majority and the minority. These parties will be elected by the people through election in their own districts. By then, the representatives shall elect an prime minister to head the parliament.
If in any reason the prime minister cannot fulfill his duties, just a majority vote of NO CONFIDENCE he will be oust by the parliament.
Another thing is that in creating laws, it is much easier to file and create laws rather than of our present system wherein the House of Representatives will wait for a Senator to sponsor a bill in order to become a law.
I am for CHARTER CHANGE!!!
August 10th, 2007 at 4:53 am
I agree wholeheartedly with one who commented that changing the way senators are elected will not change anything. Even changing the whole structure of the Philippine government will not solve any problem. The problem lies on the Filipinos themselves. They are the problem! They lack nationalism or love of country. They are almost a 100 million strong and they could not come up with anything good for themselves. They always blame others , expecially the politicians, as if they could do better when they are the ones in their places. They lack innovation. They are only good at copying. A small country like Finland , with just about 20 million population can produce the best cellphones in the world.
Similar advanced countries in Europe have comparatively smaller populations but but are good at making things and sell them worlwide. And what about the Philippines, bakit pati bunot made in China na! Baka pati tutpick iniimport!
My brother used to say that in order for the Philippines to do better, it has to start from the scratch again, Meaning, there must be a new generation which will be educated in a new system wherein nationalism and patriotism will play a big part. Only when they have this love of country will things change for the better for them!
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:30 pm
What we need is autonomy among regions. Let the local government decide what is good for their regions not Malacanang. Give them more autonomy to decide what to do with their natural resources. A larger percentage share of taxes earned locally. Same with whatever income generated from natural resources ie mining, logging.
When I was little there was numerous mining & logging in Samar. I thought that was a big income for the local government & would enable to build new roads, schools, hospitals to name a few. But my late father once told me we only get what ever amount the national government would give us. But you won’t believe me, if they just give us at least a few cents on every kilo of dirt mined & few pesos on every trees cut, we can build with highways not covered with concrete but marble.
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:31 am
Yes, we should elect senators per region. Perhaps we can get more quality senators out of this. I pray…
July 23rd, 2007 at 1:24 am
Yes ms ott, change from people like you. Respect for the law must spare no one, including those runing for goverment positions such as those senators-wanna-be. Dapat respetuhin due process hindi yun gagawa ng sariling pakulo.