Abueva: Attend also to long-term, positive institutional changes

President Benigno Aquino 3rd should make known his intentions on Constitutional amendments, if any, while it is still early in his administration, highly respected political scientist Dr. Jose Abueva, former president of the University of the Philippines and now president of Kalayaan College, told The Manila Times.

The President should look into institutional changes if he is really concerned about making long-term, positive changes.

“Institutional change is imperative,” said Abueva, “unless we reform our institutions, there will be no lasting change for the better in our society,” Dr. Abueva said.

President Aquino the other day said he was tasking experts to study the issue. An Aquino political ally, Rep. Neptali Gonzales 2nd has proposed a referendum on the Charter change or Cha-cha to see what the people really want.

Abueva believes that weaknesses in our government’s foundation should be addressed if the president is to deliver on his promises of combating corruption and extreme poverty; and that this decision should be made sooner, for the benefit of Aquino’s reputation.

“He should already make up his mind, make known his intention [on Charter change.]” Abueva said.

“It would be better to do it earlier, because if he does it in the middle [of his term], people will say he is trying to extend his stay in power,” Abueva added.

Abueva was once a member and the Secretary of the Constitutional Commission back in 1971. During the Administration of former President Gloria Arroyo, he served as the Chairman of Consultative Commission on Charter-Change, which was formed in 2005.

It was during this time that Abueva gave several talks on the benefits of shifting from a Republic to a Federal-Parliamentary system of government to various lawmakers and also the former president herself.

However, moves to amend the charter under the Arroyo Administration, for political or economic arguments, were met with public rejection because of distrust of Arroyo.

Several reports from the media also led to mass speculation that Arroyo was pushing for the amendments to extend her tenure in power by maneuvering herself to become the prime minister, if the Federal-Parliamentary system were to be used.

Abueva cited some institutional changes he thought could benefit the country.

“One institutional change is that the president and the vice president should be voted for together as pair,” Abueva said.

He explained that this would ensure better cooperation between the two highest administrative positions.

Another example Abueva gave concerned the Senate. He said the senators should represent regions and be elected by region, and not nationally. That would make the upper chamber “more egalitarian.”

Abueva also suggested that elections could be held every four years instead of the current three years; noting that holding elections every three years is too costly. Also, the three-year tenure is too brief for officials to do their jobs well because they are distracted by concerns about the next campaign for reelection.

Though President Aquino may have to make up his mind on Cha-cha soon, it does not have to be within his first hundred days, as he may already have a plan for these said Abueva.

“It’s too late to suggest what to do now [for President Aquino’s first 100 days],” said Abueva. “Even before the proclamation, he already knew [he won]. I’m sure he has spent a lot of time thinking about his first 100 days. He knows he needs to make an immediate impact.”

Although Abueva commended the President for his Cabinet selections, he advised against Mr. Aquino’s decision to temporarily be at the helm of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“You’re centralizing power [by taking over the DILG],” said Abueva, “a president should have only general supervision.”

Abueva refused to give any further advice on how President Aquino should politically handle his first 100 days as president. But he vaguely stated that the best thing the President and his Cabinet could do is to make resounding “impact in all their departments. –RAFAEL PUYAT REPORTER, Manila Times