Press Release
September 17, 2009

Reforms for political advancement
ISSUE BASED ACTION-ORIENTED POLITICAL PARTIES
IS WHAT WE NEED - ANGARA

As the presidential race hastens Senator Edgardo J. Angara today emphasized the importance of issue-oriented political organizations saying that the country's political party system must not be confined to personalities rather it must focus on issues and political platform.

"Political parties play a vital role in the country's quest for political and economic development. The political party system in the country is basically confined to personalities rather than issues and political platform. There have been many attempts to reform the orientation of our political parties in the past so as to veer way from the concept of traditional politics, but unfortunately they have not been successful because of lack of legal institutional framework to govern system of political parties," said Angara longest serving Senator of the Philippines.

He added, "Our history tells us that political parties in the Philippines are normally used only as political vehicles to win an election. Hence, most political aspirants change political parties for convenience, rather than because of conviction. This only shows the lack of ideological commitment of the members of party because they choose parties based on the rise and fall of the tide of opportunity."

Candidates bolting out from their political parties make their organization secondary and unfortunately political parties are used only for election purposes. Hence, making it ineffective rather than institutional and platform based organizations.

"We must be vigilant and consider their track record, their vision for us, for the country rather than personality politics. We must achieve political maturity to progress as a nation," Angara laments.

As we hear the budget for 2010 we try to craft it not only in the context of the global crisis, but more importantly it should be in line with the country's effort to achieve global competitiveness.

He adds, "Our next leader should be asked what advocacy he/she will carry. In 2010 we will not only face a recovering state from crisis but a crossroad and a critical one. The choice that we make will definitely determine our future. In 2-3 years time our population will already be 100 million, will our next leader be able to address population growth, reduce if not eradicate poverty, provide education, food on our table, achieve good governance? These questions should be answered because only by proper information can people be educated and give their trust and loyalty to our next leader."

"Our next leader should have that vision, not only to occupy the highest position of the land but the vision of taking his/her people somewhere better and future is brighter.'

Angara, chair of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), said that it is in this light that the Political Party Act should be enacted. He said that it is imperative for the political party system to be strengthened if we want to develop and to achieve genuine political development and democratization. Thus, like SB 67 he advanced moves to enact laws to prevent the system of ward politics and the political chameleons that we have today.

"I urge to transform the Philippine political parties from personality-oriented to issue based action oriented political organizations to provide our constituents better brand of party politics," added Angara.

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