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Reevaluating the Requirements for the Philippine Presidency: The Need for Stricter

Qualifications

Estephanie Gail J. Mercado

Mr. Jerico F. Tavera

March 07, 2023

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Reevaluating the Requirements for the Philippine Presidency: The Need for Stricter

Qualifications

The Philippines has had its fair share of presidents who have left a lasting impact on the

country, for better or for worse. The presidency is the highest position in the Philippines, and

with great power comes great responsibility. But is the current system of requirements enough to

ensure that the person occupying the position is truly capable of fulfilling this responsibility?

According to a study by the Philippine Statistics Authority, the percentage of Filipinos

who have completed at least a college education remains low at 21.3%. This means that even

though the current requirements for the presidency include being able to read and write, a

significant portion of the population may not have the necessary education to make informed

decisions and govern effectively. Moreover, a study by the University of the Philippines School

of Economics found that 7 out of 10 Filipinos believe that politicians lack integrity and honesty.

This suggests that the current system of requirements for the presidency may not be effectively

filtering out candidates who have questionable character.

The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines states that the requirements for presidency are

as follows: (1) natural-born citizen, (2) registered voter, (3) able to read and write, (4) at least 40

years old on the day of the election, and (5) resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years

preceding such election. While these requirements may seem reasonable at first glance, they do

not necessarily guarantee that the person who becomes president is the best candidate for the job.
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Firstly, being a natural-born citizen does not automatically make one qualified to become

president. There have been cases where natural-born citizens have run for the presidency but

have been deemed unqualified due to other factors, such as lack of experience or questionable

character. Secondly, the requirement of being able to read and write is a basic requirement that

should be expected of any presidential candidate. However, this alone does not indicate whether

a candidate has the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively govern a nation. Thirdly, the

requirement of being at least 40 years old on the day of the election is meant to ensure that the

candidate has had enough life experience to handle the demands of the presidency. However, age

alone does not necessarily translate to maturity or good judgment. Lastly, the requirement of

being a resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years preceding the election is meant to ensure

that the candidate has a good understanding of the country and its people. While this is

important, it is not enough to guarantee that the candidate has the necessary leadership skills to

govern effectively.

Given these points, the current system of requirements for the presidency in the

Philippines is not enough to ensure that the person who becomes president is truly capable of

fulfilling the responsibilities of the position. To address this issue, the Philippines needs to

implement stricter requirements for the presidency.

One suggestion is to require a certain level of education or experience in governance,

such as having served in government or having a graduate degree in a relevant field. This could

help ensure that the candidate has the necessary knowledge and skills to govern effectively.
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Another suggestion is to require candidates to undergo a psychological evaluation to assess their

temperament and emotional stability. This could help weed out candidates who have a history of

making impulsive or irrational decisions.

In conclusion, the Philippines needs to reevaluate its requirements for the presidency to

ensure that the person who becomes president is truly capable of fulfilling the responsibilities of

the position. As we all want the best for our nation, elect and choose wisely the deserving leader

to make it happen. By implementing stricter requirements, such as requiring a certain level of

education or experience in governance and undergoing a psychological evaluation, the country

can ensure that it is led by the best possible candidate.

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References

Philippine Statistics Authority. (2020). Philippine Statistics Authority.

https://psa.gov.ph/content/highlights-philippine-statistics-authority%E2%80%99s-2019-

update-statistics-higher-education

University of the Philippines School of Economics. (2018). Social Weather Stations (SWS)

survey: Most Filipinos say politicians lack integrity and honesty.

https://www.econ.upd.edu.ph/perse/?p=6097
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Bibliography:

1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/1987-constitution/

Aguiling-Dalisay, G. (2019). Stricter requirements for the presidency. Philippine Daily Inquirer.

https://opinion.inquirer.net/120503/stricter-requirements-for-presidency

Reyes, D. J. (2018). The need for higher standards for Philippine presidential candidates.

Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/213153-need-higher-standards-

philippine-presidential-candidates

Tan, A. S. (2019). The case for higher standards for presidential candidates. BusinessMirror.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/02/12/the-case-for-higher-standards-for-presidential-

candidates/

Tuason, M. C. (2019). The Philippines needs a more competent president. Nikkei Asia.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/The-Philippines-needs-a-more-competent-president