Over the past few days, we continued to get a healthy consensus from sectors we met that it is time for a real change. I have been consulting a number of people on the 2010.2016 proposal and no one had an objection on electing the constitutional convention delegates in 2010. At the same time, this is also when we will elect the new President, Senators and Congressmen.
It was quite clear that everyone I talked to wants the constitution reviewed so that we can make necessary economic and political reforms. A number of people also asked why 2016 and not earlier? A longer timetable allows a more thorough review by the concon and also removes doubt that it may be used by incumbent officials or whoever will win in the 2010 election as the change in the system will not apply to them, but it will be during their incumbency that the transition by 2016 will be planned well.
So far, many other ideas have come about, from the idea of a bicameral or a unicameral parliament, having regional senators, to the president still being voted directly by the people and the prime minister being elected by the members of the parliament. But for me, this discussion can be brought about once we all agree on a concon on 2010. Let me share with you another input I got thru email on how many countries implement a bicameral parliament.
From: G.D. Chan (goldychan@yahoo.com)
Dear Mr. Concepcion,
In reaction to your 2010.2016 article in GoNegosyo, here is a list of countries with bicameral parliament. It seems to be not such a bad group to belong to. I would go for a parliamentary system, but bicameral. Given our experience with the House of Representatives, I do not think a unicameral parliamentary system would sell.
Countries with Bicameral Parliament
- Algeria: Council of the Nation & National People’s Assembly
- Antigua & Barbuda: Senate & House of Representatives
- Australia: Senate & House of Representatives
- Austria: Federal Council & National Council
- Bahamas: Senate & House of Assembly
- Bahrain: Consultative Assembly & Assembly of Representatives
- Barbados: Senate & House of Assembly
- Belarus: Council of the Republic & Chamber of Representatives
- Belgium: Senate & Chamber of Representatives
- Belize: Senate & House of Representatives
- Bhutan: National Council & National Assembly
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: House of Peoples & House of Representatives
- Cambodia: Senate & National Assembly
- Canada: Senate & House of Commons
- Congo (Democratic Republic): Senate & National Assembly
- Congo (Republic): Senate & National Assembly
- Czech Republic: Senate & Chamber of Deputies
- Egypt: Consultative Council & People’s Assembly
- Ethiopia: House of Federation & House of People’s Representatives
- Fiji: Senate & House of Representatives
- France: Senate & National Assembly
- Gabon: Senate & National Assembly
- Germany: Federal Council & Federal Diet
- Grenada: Senate & House of Representatives
- Haiti: Senate & Chamber of Deputies
- India: Council of States & House of People
- Ireland: Senate & Chamber of Deputies
- Iraq: Council of Union & Council of Representatives
- Italy: Senate of the Republic & Chamber of Deputies
- Jamaica: Senate & House of Representatives
- Japan: House of Councilors & House of Representatives
- Jordan: Assembly of Senators & Assembly of Deputies
- Kazakhstan: Senate & Assembly
- Kyrgyzstan: Legislative Assembly & Assembly of People’s Representatives
- Lesotho: Senate & National Assembly
- Madagascar: Senate & National Assembly
- Malaysia: Senate & House of Representatives
- Mauritania: Assembly of Senators & National Assembly
- Morocco: Assembly of Councilors & Assembly of Representatives
- Netherlands: First Chamber & Second Chamber
- Poland: Senate & Diet
- Romania: Senate & Chamber of Deputies
- Russia: Federation Council & State Assembly
- Saint Lucia: Senate & House of Assembly
- Slovenia: National Council & National Assembly
- South Africa: National Council of Provinces & National Assembly
- Spain: Senate & Congress of Deputies
- Switzerland: Council of States & National Council
- Tajikistan: National Assembly & Assembly of Representatives
- Thailand: Senate & House of Representatives
- Trinidad and Tobago: Senate & House of Representatives
- United Kingdom: House of Lords & House of Commons
- Uzbekistan: Senate & Legislative Chamber
To be fair, there are also economically-advanced countries that have a unicameral parliamentary system:
- China
- Denmark
- Finland
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Israel
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Portugal
- Singapore
- Sweden
- Turkey
- Ukraine
But please note the Asian examples. China is a totalitarian state while Singapore is such a small city state that perhaps there is logic to having just a unicameral body.
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Congratulations to the winners of the HSBC Young Entrepreneurs Awards for 2007-08, an annual business plan writing competition which aims to cultivate and inspire young people’s interest in entrepreneurship. I told HSBC President and CEO Mark Watkinson that this was one of the best competitions I have judged with very good teams presenting. Two teams from Ateneo won the first and second place and third place went to the students from UP Diliman. I did vote for the Ateneo team since they wore green ties. Kidding aside, they deserved to win and were honest with the originators of the ideas. The complete winners are the Flexisound team (Gold and Eco-Business Innovation Award) Menard Dacono, Katrina Gracia Macaraig and Klaire Aldyn King, the Portalis Team (Silver) Fay Irene Gurrea, Missy Cheah and Kamille Patricia Carlos and the Gaia Team (Bronze) Dindi Peralta and Mark Rome Race. Aside from myself, the judges for this competition were Mark Watkinson as Chair, Lorenzo Tan of WWF Philippines, Andrew Tan of Megaworld Corporation, Wilfred Uytengsu Jr. of Alaska, Hans Schwab of SICPA and one of our Go Negosyo mentors Johnlu Koa of French Baker.
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Be the first NOKIA MOBILE ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR! The Nokia Mobile Entrepreneur Award is a nationwide awards program for innovative Filipino entrepreneurs that use mobile technology products and services in their business operations. Download the participation form at www.nokia.com.ph or www.gonegosyo.net and send via fax (+632) 637-7873 or e-mail at nokiamobileentrep@gmail.com. Deadline is on April 14, 2008. For more info call or text (+632) 637-9229, (+63919) 685-7079 or email nokiamobileentrep@gmail.com.
