He told newsmen in an interview at his residence here before flying back to Manila that the position of De Castro will be upgraded under the new set-up.

De Venecia explained that the term of the Vice President, together with that of President Arroyo, will continue up to June 2010 under the unicameral parliamentary government initially using the unified French parliamentary model.

"At the same time, I confirmed he (De Castro) will have a seat in the interim parliament and at the same time, he’ll have a cabinet ministry to handle," De Venecia stressed.

He also said that De Castro will preside at the opening of the interim parliament, explaining that it will not be the Speaker who will preside "but the Vice President."

But he said de Castro’s term, together with that of President Arroyo, will end after 2010 and then, there is no more vice president after that.

He stressed that De Castro will be a member of parliament with specific responsibilities, adding that the powers of the latter, together with President Arroyo’s were already technically defined.

De Castro, he stressed, will continue as vice president, become a member of the parliament, and be given a cabinet post with a cabinet ministry because right now he (De Castro) does not have a cabinet post.

To date, De Castro holds the position of coordinator on housing with a cabinet rank but technically, in the strict sense of the word, does not have a cabinet post, De Venecia explained.

Branding as pure and simple intrigues certain reports that he feels insecure on De Castro, De Venecia retorted by saying that he is the one creating "all these beautiful positions for him" in the interim parliament.

"We have a good deal of respect, we have a good working relationship with Noli de Castro," De Venecia affirmed, denying that he had a clash with the Vice President.

Summing up all these, De Venecia said they have provided transitory provisions that were crafted and designed to give a dignified and honorable place in the sun for every one, where they would be most effective.

At the same time, De Venecia said that upon the opening of the interim unicameral parliament, which he predicted to be sometime in July this year, the Senate and the House of Representatives would be phased out.

Immediately after that, the members of the interim parliament — who are the incumbent members of the Senate and of the House — will elect among themselves the speaker of the first unicameral parliament.

The Prime Minister will be the chief operating officer of the government. He will be coordinating and in charge of the Cabinet.

In the case of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, she will continue to be the chief executive with "fairly strong executive powers like French President Jacques Chirac," De Venecia said.

After 2010 when the term of the President and Vice President already expired, the interim parliament shifts to the modified British Westminster model, from the unified French parliamentary model.

Under the modified British Westminster model, the Prime Minister will be the chief executive, the power assumed by the incumbent President in the interim parliament using the unified French model.

It is modified (British Westminster parliament), explained de Venecia, because "unlike in the United Kingdom, we don’t have a Queen or in Thailand, a King."

"So, after 2010, the President — whoever he or she is —will become the head of state and the unifying symbol of the nation, but largely a ceremonial president as the executive powers are exercised by the Prime Minister," de Venecia further said.

He expressed confidence that the lone proposed amendment to the Constitution is approved in May this year and ratified by the people in June.

He said that by early July, the first free unicameral parliamentary government in the Philippines will convene.