Dengvaxia Fiasco Would Have Had Much Lesser Chances Of Happening Under A Parliamentary System

As the Dengvaxia fiasco is still going on -- this incident proves one thing that government frameworks do matter. It's time to consider first world countries and which countries do perform better. As much as I advocate for opening up the economy but I don't think it should stop there. Remaining in a unitary-presidential system may cause the Philippines to have a 14 day traffic or more in EDSA or any place in Imperial Manila. Now it's time to consider how a parliamentary system could have lessened the chances of the Dengvaxia fiasco. 

According to CNN Philippines -- here's something that former president Noynoy Aquino said concerning Dengvaxia said that inadvertently showed why the presidential system is faulty:

Aquino, who attended the joint hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon, Health, and Finance panels into the Dengvaxia vaccine controversy as a resource person, said no questions were raised when the now-controversial vaccine was bought during his term.

"Bago nagdesisyon ang gobyerno sa Dengvaxia, habang nagdedesisyon, pagkatapos magdesisyon, at hanggang ngayon, walang nagparating sa akin ng pagtutol sa bakuna," he said.

[Translation: No one advised me against Dengvaxia during the decision-making process, after we procured, and until now.]

This would have had lesser chances of happening under a parliamentary system for this reason if Noynoy were prime minister...

This would be how the set-up would be how Prime Minister Noynoy is not allowed to sleep during the parliamentary hearings with the Senate. He would have to attend house debates especially with his proposal of Dengvaxia. There would be some opposition made or some details the opposition would want to voice out against Prime Minister Noynoy's decision.

Let's take for instance that the Senate opposition leader is Senator Richard Gordon. Senator Gordon will say, "In due fairness Prime Minister Benigno Aquino III -- I would like to commend you for your plan to help stop the dengue epidemic. However, we have recently found some studies by Dr. Scott Halstead a dengue expert that says we should not mass vaccinate. Studies have shown that only patients who are seropositive or who have had once contracted dengue should be vaccinated and a mass blood test must occur first before we can vaccinate - to ensure that they are seropositive and that they are already approved. Otherwise, those who are injected and are seronegative will end up having the chances of dying."

With that in mind there would be hearings to be done to how it can be done. I don't know how Dr. Janette Garin would defend her plan. If she can't defend her plan and she will choose to oppose the findings and conclusions then she can be removed from her position in the Department of Health. At the same time, Prime Minister Noynoy wouldn't have to rush things. One of the worst features of the presidential system is the six year restriction -- six years is too short for good leaders and too long for bad leaders. Noynoy rushed things because his term was almost over. He could get a term extension under a parliamentary system if he were competent. If he were prime minister and the fiasco happened -- he would be knocked out by a vote of no confidence. 

The result may be that after much study, maybe we'd see Dr. Garin go and get a more competent Department of Health secretary. The event may soon start first with blood test and coming back for the vaccination against dengue. A careful scrutiny could have made Dengvaxia a success. Instead, the lack of opposition in a presidential system has allowed this fiasco to happen at a much larger scale.