As recent reports reflected corruption as the most pressing concern for the next administration
ANGARA PUSHED FOR POLITICAL PARTIES BUILT ON ISSUES
AND POLITICAL PLATFORMS

Recent poll by Nielsen Media Research accounted corruption as the biggest issue that the next government will confront. With this, Senator Edgardo J. Angara today stressed the importance of achieving a solid and reliable political party system that acts according to their platforms and vision as a governing body rather than a personality-based political organization.

"In the Philippines, political parties have been instruments to win a government position. Unfortunately, most political aspirants use these political parties for convenience rather than conviction and service. These may be related to reports on inefficient public service and corrupt practices in many government offices. Hence, political parties should build on issues, plan of actions and political platforms rather than confining to personalities," said Angara chair of Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).

In this light, Angara stressed that the Political Party Act should be enacted especially in these times of nearing election period. SB 67 aims to achieve and develop genuine political party development and democratization in our present political party system. It also seeks to create a Party Development Fund that will provide subsidy to political parties of national operational expenses and party building activities not only for electoral campaigns but also for their developmental programs. These will all be appropriated in the national budget.

In the bill, a political party may qualify to receive a portion from the Party Development Fund if its national candidates garnered at least 15% of the popular vote in the most recent general elections.

"This bill intends to bring into the fore the party ideals and policy agendas of the candidates and establishing a reliable political party system reduces the chance of putting into office those who run only for political survival," emphasized Angara.

Meanwhile, according to the Nielsen Media survey, next to corruption as the major reason that should be addressed by the next President, the economy is also another pressing concern followed by education and environment.