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President to be 'elder statesman' under proposed federal system

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<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mIXwsAKx9xk?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure>MANILA - The president will be an &quot;elder statesman&quot; who will ensure government runs smoothly under a federal system proposal that was drafted by his party, an official said Wednesday.Some functions of the president under the current set up will be shared with the prime minister, cabinet officials and regional governors, said PDP-Laban Federalism Institute executive director Jonathan Malaya.&quot;We envision the role of the president to be an elder statesman, a person who can ensure that there is no gridlock in the system, a person who can mediate between warring political parties, a person who can represent the country abroad,&quot; Malaya told ANC&#x27;s Early Edition.&quot;Federalism is all about limiting the power of the presidency because what we have right now is an all-powerful president. What we have is president that is concerned with everything -- domestic, foreign policy,&quot; he said.One of President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s campaign promises before he assumed office in June last year was the shift to a federal-parliamentary form of government to help spread wealth to the countryside.While the PDP-Laban Federalism Institute maintained the qualifications for the president, Malaya said the minimum age requirement might be raised to 50. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/11/16/president-pm-share-powers-under-federalism-proposal">President, PM share powers under federalism proposal</a></li></ul>The proposal also calls for 3 senators representing each of the 11 regions and a 400-member Federal Assembly. The party-list system will remain, he said.<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qrfBpSyYO3k?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure>A proportional represent (PR) system will be introduced wherein Filipinos can vote for a political party apart from their district representative, he said.&quot;The PR system is my vote for my country. It&#x27;s my vote for how I want my country to be run,&quot; Malaya said.

The president will be an "elder statesman" who will ensure government runs smoothly under a federal system proposal that was drafted by his party, an official said Wednesday.

The president will be an "elder statesman" who will ensure government runs smoothly under a federal system proposal that was drafted by his party, an official said Wednesday.