Federalism, anyone?

Countless times, the Senators have been showcasing themselves as the branch of government that is a large amount free and sometimes conventional. Certainly, it has excessively emphasized that independence every so often, particularly its conflicts with the other branches of government, the executive and the judiciary.

For apparent motivations, the senate has been so unenthusiastic to the initiative of shifting to a unicameral parliamentary method of government. Senators some time ago have taken the stance that any alteration to the present Charter has to be made through elected members of a Constitutional Convention. Unfortunately, last Wednesday, no less than 12 senators put their signature on a resolution suggesting to call together both Congress into a constituent assembly. The document, to the surprised of everyone was authored by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel, put forward a federal structure of government that eliminates the present centralized form where the sole power emanates in the “Palace by the river” where a number of corruption scandals and in the minds of those outside the corridor of power has brought about blemished progress.

Our senators have work log jams that have been significantly put away by these current investigations. They put down essential pending bills like the cheaper medicine law which until now is on the backburner. I wonder how the public would interpret this turnaround from the senators. A nice explanation is that federalism would be a little sort of middle ground for charter change who in the past has been espoused by the GMA administration. It cannot be denied that modifications and changes should be effected on the current Charter and that a few of them should have done a long time ago. Unfortunately on the past proposals the senate needs to be phase-out and as expected these senators do not want to be omitted, as well.

Debates and discussions on important concerns that will impinge on the lives of Filipinos should be left to professionals and to those proficient enough. The nation is dismayed with a replicate of the comical and sometimes hilarious roundabout in those sterile and fruitless Senate hearings and we also recognize with certainty how our legislators can fall short in conducting themselves worthily.

The country cannot avoid but feel suspicious; the shocking turn around by these senators cannot be straightforwardly disregarded.