The fundamental source of the Philippines’ governance failures, from Metro Manila’s flooding crisis to the national budget’s political distortions, is the 1987 Constitution’s multi-party presidential system, a combination that Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Edgar “Egay” Erice said Tuesday simply does not work and must be replaced, though not by the current administration.
Erice made the statement in an interview on DZRH News program The Situation Report on September 8, arguing that systemic reform of the Constitution is the only durable solution to problems that have persisted across multiple administrations.
The lawmaker said the Philippines must make a fundamental choice between two coherent governance models—a multi-party parliamentary system, or a two-party presidential system—and stop trying to operate a hybrid that produces the worst elements of both.
“Ang talagang choice na dapat nating bigyan ng pansin, so kung may mananalong pangulo kung sino man siya, siguro ang pinakamagandang magagawa niya sa ating bansa ay immediately after his or her election eh magkaroon tayo ng constitutional change, revision of the Constitution,” Erice said.
Erice said he has already filed a resolution in Congress urging the creation of a Constitutional Commission to study and propose changesl, specifically framing the proposal as preparation for the next administration, not for the current one.
“I filed a resolution in Congress urging for a Constitutional Commission who will study and propose changes in the Constitution, not for this administration but for the next administration,” the lawmaker said.
Erice said the multi-party presidential system breeds the exact pathologies visible in Philippine politics today — personality-driven campaigns, party-switching, political dynasties, and a Congress where parochial district interests consistently override national ones.
The lawmaker said the most discouraging thing he hears from fellow lawmakers is that their primary preoccupation is winning the 2028 elections in their districts, not crafting the policies that will move the country forward.
“Ang nakakalungkot talaga ang narinig ko, ang pinag-iisipan talaga yung how to win the elections for 2028 either in their localities, in their congressional districts, kahit yung mga batang mga kongresista. Except for a few,” he said.
