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By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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Thursday, April 27, 2017
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MANILA – What this country needs is a change in the electoral culture, not a governance shift to federal system, said Richard Gordon.
The senator said that federalism won’t solve all the problems of the country because the government will still be run by the same people.
President Rodrigo Duterte has been vocal about his plan to establish a federal government to achieve lasting peace in the country
In federalism, the distribution of the total collected revenue will be reversed, earmarking 80 percent of the revenue collections to local governments and 20 percent to the National Treasury.
“Parang new society with the same old faces. Kunwari yung society, federal government, eh yun na naman ang magpapatakbo, same people. So ang kailangan natin is cultural change in the way we run the government,” Gordon said.
He stressed the need for an electoral reform to give other candidates, with leadership qualities but insufficient funds, a chance of being elected to public office.
“Gusto ko baguhin yung sistema ng eleksyon. Unless we do it, how can you change? Tatakbo akong senador o tatakbong presidente, para makapag-advertise ka, P895,000 for 30 seconds,” according to him.
“Para makakuha ka ng ganung salapi, either mayaman na mayaman ka, which means pabor lamang sa mayaman yan. Pangalawa, kung mayaman ka ginamit mo pera mo, malamang babawiin mo somehow yan. Pangatlo, pag kaya mong humingi sa mga malalaki syempre you’re putting yourself in danger na kapag nakaupo ka na manghihingi ng pabor sa yo yan.”
The Commission on Elections has been encouraged to organize state-sponsored televised debates in every region to provide voters an opportunity to get to know the candidates.
“At saka di na talaga gagastos ng malaki ang mga kandidato. Ako payag dyan,” Gordon said./PN
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