Profile of an excellent congressman: Proposed template

Competent, concerned, and conscientious citizens, who love our country and want improvement in the quality of Cebuano leaders to send to the Federal Parliament next year, should have a basic criteria in choosing excellent parliamentarians. That criteria should be realistic, practicable, and not too idealistic (because we are not electing student leaders to run a supreme student council). The qualifications should be specific and measurable. There must be a clear set of Key Performance Indicators and Key Results Areas. And those who shall be elected should be checked at least annually by his or her constituents based on said criteria.

Under the present Constitution (that will most probably be amended), only the following are the qualifications: natural-born citizen, at least 25 years old, and literate. The last qualification should be improved. Knowing how to read and write is not enough. The candidate must pass a qualifying examination with questions about the law, the fundamental provisions of the Constitution, the function of the legislative, the executive and the judiciary. They must also know the bill of rights and the provisions on the national territory, the declaration of principles and basic policies and other important provisions. Those who get less than 75 percent should be disqualified from running. We are electing learned men who shall legislate and not just open their mouths senselessly. I know that many will react negatively to this proposal. I am willing to engage them in a debate.

If we want quality legislators, we should level up qualifying standards. Not every Tom, Dick, and Harry should be allowed to run for parliament if they will just make fools of themselves in sessions and public hearings. I have nothing against actors, comedians, radio and TV hosts, preachers, boxers, and basketball champions, but if they do not pass the qualifying exams they should stay in their own areas of competence. They should not burden the citizens with their lack of preparedness in the difficult task of law-making. The legislature requires an in-depth knowledge of socio-economic problems, global politics and international law, criminal and civil law, the fundamentals of labor laws and taxation, and the basics of parliamentary procedures.

Many Cebuanos have the competence and integrity to be in the parliament, but do not have famous family names that ring a bell in traditional politics, or do not have the money, means, and machinery needed in the dirty game of Philippine politics. And so, the more qualified shy away from a fight they are bound to lose. The real losers are the people and the nation. We lose the opportunity to vote the best legislators and end up having a legislature manned by moneyed incompetents who behave like comedians. We do not have the right to complain because we voted jokers and nincompoops into the hallowed floors of parliament.

It is crazy, as the Chinese sage would say, to expect excellent results if we keep on using the same mediocre standards and choosing incompetents.

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