What is the current governance in the Philippines?

The Philippines is a unitary presidential constitutional republic, with a president serving as both the head of state and the head of government. The president is elected by popular vote for a single six-year term, with no possibility of re-election. The country has a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The judiciary is independent of the executive and legislative branches. The current president of the Philippines is Rodrigo Duterte, who has been in office since June 30, 2016.

Presidential Republic

Branches of Government:

- Executive Branch:
- President (Head of State, Head of Government)
- Vice President
- Cabinet (Departments and agencies)
- Legislative Branch:
- Bicameral Congress
- Senate (24 members elected at-large)
- House of Representatives (300 members elected from districts)
- Judicial Branch:
- Supreme Court
- Lower courts (Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Regional Trial Courts, etc.)

Constitutional Framework:

- Constitution of the Philippines (1987)

Features:

- Separation of powers among the three branches of government
- Checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful
- Democratic principles: Universal suffrage, freedom of speech, separation of church and state
- Strong presidential system: The president has significant executive powers, including the power to veto laws and appoint government officials.
- Decentralization: Local governments have substantial autonomy, with elected officials and independent budgets.
- Independent commissions: Various independent commissions oversee specific areas, such as elections, human rights, and environmental protection.