Press Release
September 1, 2009

ANGARA: REFORMS IN PARTY SYSTEM NEEDED

Concerned of the vulnerability of the country's political parties and in relation with the elections in 2010, Sen. Edgardo J. Angara is urging the Senate for a legal institution to govern political parties and their activities, members and funding.

"The country's party system is confined to personalities rather than issues and platforms. There had been many attempts to reform this orientation to veer away from traditional politics, but they failed because of the lack a governing system," notes Sen. Angara, former Senate President.

Political parties in the Philippines are known to be used only as political vehicles to win an election. Most political aspirants change political parties for convenience rather than conviction manifesting the lack of ideological commitment to their parties.

Sen. Angara then stresses, "It is imperative that a political party system be strengthened if we want it to develop and achieve genuine political development and democratization. We have to enact laws to prevent the system of ward politics and political chameleons that we have today."

Under the "Political Party Development Act of 2007," party members wanting to change party affiliation after being elected under that party's ticket should first resign from his elective position and must seek a fresh mandate from the electorate. Likewise, defecting persons cannot be appointed nor hold any position in any public office, till after the expiration of the term within which they were elected.

The bill also seeks to create a Party Development Fund to provide subsidy to national political parties for their operational expenses and party building activities not only for electoral campaign but also for their developmental programs. It also encourages political parties to raise funds through Party Foundation so that they will develop self-sufficiency and lessen their dependence on contributions from illegal sources.

For their part, Political parties should institute internal control mechanisms within political parties to promote accountability and transparency. 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.

Sen. Angara hopes that "this bill can change the norm of having political butterflies during and after the election period and to emphasize party ideals and policy agenda rather than political pragmatism and survival."

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