Presidential Train VS. Parliamentary Train

Do you remember the time when Noynoy Aquino and Joseph Pabaya both made the promise that if the expressway from Baclaran to Bacoor were not completed that both would allow themselves to be run over by a train? It was so last 2016 and now it's already going 2018. In short, two years ever since the broken promise to help put an end to what Noynoy called as the "panay pampapoging serbisyo" which may mean as show business type of service. Unfortunately, Noynoy's administration was set on one thing: SHOW BUSINESS POLITICS.

Now how would a parliamentary government have done things better? Here's a diagram to help explain things:


Okay, let's consider if Prime Minister Noynoy and Minister of Transportation Pabaya were both scrutinized by a shadow cabinet of the opposition or minority bloc. You could consider how Pabaya as the minister of transportation would have to compete with the shadow minister of transportation. The other would involve Noynoy having to answer to the leader of the opposition. They have to answer to each other and make sure answers are found on both sides.

Do you remember this speech? Unfortunately, there's no one to oppose both Noynoy and Pabaya with their ridiculous statement that they would get the MRT finished by the end of 2016. 2016 came. Where's the expressway from Baclaran to Bacoor? What may have attributed to their failure was that they were relying only on their side of the fence. In business, you have to get as many ideas as possible in order to get something good done.

Let's think of how the parliamentary could have helped out. The leader of the opposition would probably say that while it's good to have an expressway to end the "panay papopoging serbisyo" but he or she may raise the impossibility of finishing the expressway by the end of 2015. The shadow minister of transportation would also point out the flaws of Minister of Transportation Pabaya's plans. The leader of the opposition and the shadow minister of transportation may ask both Prime Minister Noynoy and Minister of Transportation Pabaya if they're both willing to be literally ran over by a train if they can't deliver results.

Just think if the opposition ended up telling them to give more time and find the resources to finish that expressway. Unfortunately, without any opposition to oppose any flaws then think of how much wasted opportunity was done by both Noynoy and Pabaya. What a waste that such a project wasn't done because of the lousy presidential system.