LIBERAL PARTY GOES BACK TO PEOPLE FOR ITS 62ND ANNIVERSARY
RELIEF FROM OIL VAT, HIGH-COST DRUGS GETS GRASSROOTS BACKING

Mindful that they are in power because of the people, the Liberal Party today celebrated its 62nd anniversary not in a posh hotel--the usual venue for events of political parties--but with the communities of Barangay Commonwealth in Quezon City

A key event during the day-long celebration was a "pulong bayan" or town hall meeting, where Roxas and the LP leaders saw and heard for themselves the problems and concerns of the community. The party also serviced the people with a medical and dental mission, livelihood training and a job fair.

"Kadalasan kasi, ang mga pulitiko, sila-sila na lang ang nag-uusap, at madalas, hindi na naipapasok o naisasama ang agenda ng ating mga kababayan. Kaya minarapat namin na bumalik sa tao, at hindi manatili sa mga pulitiko lamang ang mga usapin ng bayan," Roxas said.

"Mula sa tao ang aming poder, ang aming mga titulo ng pamumuno, kaya kami sa Partido Liberal, para sa tao ang ating plataporma. Mula sa tao, para sa tao. Ang trabaho naman ng pulitika at public service ay para sa kaginhawaan ng ating mga kababayan, kaya ito ang aming pasya na ipagdiwang ang aming anibersaryo kasama ng mga tao," he added.

During the townhall meeting, two major advocacies of the party--the suspension of the value-added tax (VAT) on oil products and the lowering of the cost of medicines--also received support from the communities and sectors who joined in the unprecedented celebration.

Present was Efren De Luna, head of the transport group ACTO, who spoke in behalf of the transport sector, beset with lower earnings as a result of record-high oil prices worldwide. Also present during the event was George San Mateo of PISTON.

Roxas said during the town hall meeting: "Ang problema na hinaharap ng transport sector at ng buong sambayanan ay ang dahilan kaya isinusulong ng Partido Liberal ang pagtanggal ng VAT mula sa produktong petrolyo."

"Sa isang litro ng diesel, P4 na po ang savings kapag tinanggal ang VAT. Sa bawat tangke naman ng LPG, ay makakaipon ng P65," he added.

Supporting the Senator at the House of Representatives was Cavite Rep. Jun Abaya, who has filed his own counterpart bill on the matter.

"Noong isang araw lamang ay isinalang na ang aming bill sa mababang kapulungan on first reading. Tatalakayin na ito ng komite at humihingi kami ng tulong mula sa inyo para kumbinsehin ang ibang congressman tungkol sa kahalagahan ng panukalang ito," Abaya said.

During the meeting, many of the participants from the community also expressed their worries of having to buy medicines at high prices, to combat their various illnesses.

"Talagang walang duda, sobrang mahal ang presyo ng gamot dito sa Pilipinas, at ito ay dahil sa mga monopolyo ng industriya. Sa pamamagitan ng panukala namin, ang Quality Affordable Medicines bill, dadamihan natin ang kompetisyon dito sa atin, at sa ganoong paraan, magiging mas abot-kaya ang presyo nitong gamot," Roxas responded.

Events during the anniversary celebration included a visit of the Commonwealth Market, a practice for which Roxas is known as "Mr. Palengke." This is only the beginning of such pro-peopl events, and the Party plans to replicate such town hall meets in other parts of the country.