Outline: Should COC Requirements Be Stricter?
I. Introduction
1. Engaging Start: Quote by John C. Maxwell: "Leadership is not about titles,
positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another."
2. Thesis Statement:
o Current Certificate of Candidacy (COC) requirements are too lenient.
o They should be as strict as employment qualifications to ensure
competent and prepared leaders.
3. Provocative Question:
o Why is it easier to qualify for public office than for most jobs in the
Philippines?
II. Body
1. Current COC Requirements: Are They Enough?
Cite COMELEC guidelines:
o Filipino citizenship, age and residency requirements, no specific
educational or professional qualifications.
Key Question: How can leaders be entrusted with a nation without proof of their
competency?
2. The Disparity Between COC and Employment Requirements
Compare job qualifications to COC standards:
o Teachers: Bachelor’s degree + Licensure Examination for Teachers
(LET).
o Nurses: BS Nursing + Nursing Licensure Examination.
o Police Officers: College degree + NAPOLCOM exams.
Key Question: Why do ordinary jobs demand more from individuals than
positions of national leadership?
3. The Case for Stricter COC Requirements
Suggested stricter qualifications:
o Minimum educational attainment (e.g., bachelor’s degree).
o Leadership experience in government or private organizations.
o Standardized governance test to assess constitutional knowledge, ethics,
and public administration.
Case Study: Singapore’s leadership model requiring proven track records.
Key Question: Wouldn’t higher standards create more accountable and effective
leaders?
4. Addressing Counterarguments
Opposition: Stricter requirements might limit inclusivity or violate democratic
rights.
Rebuttal: Higher qualifications ensure accountability, not exclusion.
Analogy: Would you trust an unlicensed doctor to perform surgery?
III. Conclusion
1. Closing Quote: Voltaire: "With great power comes great responsibility."
2. Restate Thesis:
o COC requirements should reflect the seriousness of leadership roles.
o Stricter standards would ensure only competent and prepared individuals
assume office.
3. Provocative Closing Question:
o Are we ready to hold our leaders to the same standards we set for
ourselves?
