Malacanang Palace, the official residence and principal workplaceof the President of the Philippines. (File photo) MANILA - As the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is busy preparing for next year's national and local elections, there is a lingering question with apparent national significance, but has never been asked. This is the question, which concerns the next vice president and all future ones: "Why the Philippine government seems to have no plan to put up an official and permanent residence where the country's second highest official-in-waiting can stay and meet his or her official visitors, or even the common people needing help?" That question has a follow-up one: "Why is there a need for such official residence for the vice president?" While it is not constitutionally mandated, unlike in the case of the president, the vice president also needs a presentable residence for being the second highest elected official of the land. Section 6, Article VII