The Pangasinan Star ONLINE

MALASIQUI – Officials of Pangasinan today expressed full accord to the call of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the amendment of the Constitution to change the form of government from presidential-bicameral to parliamentary-unicameral system.

Vice Governor Oscar Lambino, one of the most ardent supporters of President Arroyo in Pangasinan, said it is about time to change the Constitution and the form of government in the Philippines to ensure that the country survives the various challenges for the rest of the 21st century.

Saying that the presidential system is divisive, Lambino agreed that a parliamentary system with a unicameral legislature will suit the demands of the times and will bring the Philippines to peace and prosperity.

He cited developed and developing countries with parliamentary form of government, like Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia and several others.

Arguing that the country does not have the money to foot an expensive constitutional convention that will elect new faces to craft a new Constitution, Lambino said it is more practical to have the present Congress, acting as a constituent body, amend the Constitution.

Anyway, he said, whatever provisions amended by Congress, will still go through a plebiscite, in which the people can reflect their sentiment on the issue.

Lambino is also amenable to the adoption of federalism which he sees as working in favor of local government units because they will retain the largest part of revenues they collect and use this for their own operations, programs and projects.