Press Release
November 19, 2009

NEXT ADMINISTRATION FACES A DAUNTING CHALLENGE - ANGARA

Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chairman of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, said in today's National Executive Council meeting that the next administration faces a daunting challenge as the period from 2010 to 2016 will be critical for the Philippines, emphasizing that "whoever will lead us during that period will be crucial to our progress, if not our very survival."

"Our country's population is predicted to hit 101 million by 2015, and 115 million by 2025. By this time, we will have reached the limit of our country's carrying capacity. We are at the risk of maxing out the resources that can support a burgeoning Philippine population," he said.

He added, "Over a third of our population is composed of children below 14 years old. We have to concern ourselves with how we will provide them quality education, adequate health care, food and clean water, and the basic tools they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world."

Angara said the party will continue pushing for key reforms in governance, arts and culture, education, science and technology, and finance and banking.

"Our party is a party borne out of reform. We have continued to blaze the trail of change these past two and a half decades. We have remained steady on the path of reform and change, which is at the heart of Philippine hope and salvation," said Angara. "We will remain on this path."

During LDP's meeting in 2007, the party committed to a legislative and executive agenda based on the principle of social partnership. This agenda centers on governance and making democracy work; boosting the economy to help businesses succeed and create jobs; upgrading education and investing in our youth; advancing women's rights and welfare; social welfare and the delivery of public goods to our people; preserving the environment; and protecting our cultural heritage and national identity.

Since 2007, the party was able to pass important measures geared towards promoting clean energy, enhancing the Philippines financial system and boosting the country's capital market, and enhancing competitiveness through science and technology:

  • The Renewable Energy Law creates the proper regulatory environment in promoting renewable energy, which will encourage local entrepreneurs to go into the development of the country's vast renewable energy resources.

  • The Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) is a supplementary private retirement plan for all public and private employees that especially targets overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

  • The Credit Information System Act (CISA) creates a system where credit information from financial institutions such as banks, credit card companies, and government lending institutions will be gathered and consolidated in a centralized system. It allows lenders to charge less credit premiums, increase lending volumes and help expand the reach of credit to small and medium enterprises.

  • The Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) promotes the development of the capital market, broadens participation of Filipinos in ownership of real estate in the country, uses the capital market as instrument to help finance and develop infrastructure projects, and protects the investing public by providing an enabling regulatory framework and environment for real estate investment companies.

  • The Pre-Need Code regulates pre-need companies to help them become more effective in mobilizing savings while protecting the public interest. It promotes soundness, stability and sustainable growth of the pre-need industry.

  • Salary Standardization III or SSL III provides a better structure correcting the distortions and anomalies in government's compensation system by adopting Total Compensation Framework or the TCF that seeks to rationalize and standardize the basic salaries, allowances, benefits and incentives for government officials and employees.

  • Approval of the Pag-Ibig fund to provide loans for the housing needs of the employed.

  • Creation of the Congressional Commission on Science, Technology and Engineering (COMSTE) to review and assess the S&T and R&D systems in the Philippines.

  • The National Cultural Heritage law is the centerpiece of the country's efforts at conserving and preserving our cultural and historical treasures.

"LDP has always stood for democracy and development. Our party's history bears out this record of reform. We will continue to strive on behalf of the people to advance the goals of democracy and development in the Philippines. We will remain steadfast in working for genuine reform," he said.

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