Joey Concepcion
Philippine Star

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

1. Algeria: Council of the Nation & National People’s Assembly

2. Antigua & Barbuda: Senate & House of Representatives

3. Australia: Senate & House of Representatives

4. Austria: Federal Council & National Council

5. Bahamas: Senate & House of Assembly

6. Bahrain: Consultative Assembly & Assembly of Representatives

7. Barbados: Senate & House of Assembly

8. Belarus: Council of the Republic & Chamber of Representatives

9. Belgium: Senate & Chamber of Representatives

10. Belize: Senate & House of Representatives

11. Bhutan: National Council & National Assembly

12. Bosnia & Herzegovina: House of Peoples & House of Representatives

13. Cambodia: Senate & National Assembly

14. Canada: Senate & House of Commons

15. Congo (Democratic Republic): Senate & National Assembly

16. Congo (Republic): Senate & National Assembly

17. Czech Republic: Senate & Chamber of Deputies

18. Egypt: Consultative Council & People’s Assembly

19. Ethiopia: House of Federation & House of People’s Representatives

20. Fiji: Senate & House of Representatives

21. France: Senate & National Assembly

22. Gabon: Senate & National Assembly

23. Germany: Federal Council & Federal Diet

24. Grenada: Senate & House of Representatives

25. Haiti: Senate & Chamber of Deputies

26. India: Council of States & House of People

27. Ireland: Senate & Chamber of Deputies

28. Iraq: Council of Union & Council of Representatives

29. Italy: Senate of the Republic & Chamber of Deputies

30. Jamaica: Senate & House of Representatives’

31. Japan: House of Councilors & House of Representatives

32. Jordan: Assembly of Senators & Assembly of Deputies

33. Kazakhstan: Senate & Assembly

34. Kyrgyzstan: Legislative Assembly & Assembly of People’s Representatives

35. Lesotho: Senate & National Assembly

36. Madagascar: Senate & National Assembly

37. Malaysia: Senate & House of Representatives

38. Mauritania: Assembly of Senators & National Assembly

39. Morocco: Assembly of Councilors & Assembly of Representatives

40. Netherlands: First Chamber & Second Chamber

41. Poland: Senate & Diet

42. Romania: Senate & Chamber of Deputies

43. Russia: Federation Council & State Assembly

44. Saint Lucia: Senate & House of Assembly

45. Slovenia: National Council & National Assembly

46. South Africa: National Council of Provinces & National Assembly

47. Spain: Senate & Congress of Deputies

48. Switzerland: Council of States & National Council

49. Tajikistan: National Assembly & Assembly of Representatives

50. Thailand: Senate & House of Representatives

51. Trinidad and Tobago: Senate & House of Representatives

52. United Kingdom: House of Lords & House of Commons

53. Uzbekistan: Senate & Legislative Chamber

To be fair, there are also economically-advanced countries that have a unicameral parliamentary system:

1. China

2. Denmark

3. Finland

4. Greece

5. Hungary

6. Iceland

7. Israel

8. New Zealand

9. Norway

10. Portugal

11. Singapore

12. Sweden

13. 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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Please continue to send your responses via email at go.2010.2016@gmail.com or thru sms at 09175591245. Also continue watching the Go Negosyo Bigtime TV Show in QTV every Saturday and Sunday from 8 to 8:30 a.m. with replays in NBN every Sunday at 9 p.m.

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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 Corp., 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.