MANILA, Philippines - A newly formed national political party is now seeking accreditation from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Officials of the Labor Party of the Philippines (LPP), a union-based political party formed by Associated Labor Unions (ALU), sat down with Comelec officials on August 25 regarding its accreditation.
"Unionized members from different industries who are the core members of the party intend to field and endorse national and local candidates including sectoral representatives in the forthcoming presidential elections on May 2016 who will espouse and promote our party platforms and programs," Alan Tanjusay, policy advocacy officer of the ALU and chairman of the LPP, said.
Established on December 2014, Tanjusay said the LPP aims to bring together members and supporters who share its values and principles to develop policies and to make communities stronger through collective action and support on issues relating to labor rights and labor standards.
Once LPP gets the accreditation, Tanjusay said party will expand its membership with various sectors of society including financial institutions, chambers of commerce, industry groups, peasant, women, fisherfolk, urban poor, indigenous peoples and the handicapped.
Registered as a labor federation at the Department of Labor and Employment in April 1954, the ALU is a pioneer aggrupation of unions in the country.
ALU manages various collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and render regular legal, dental and social service to its 120,000 land-based and sea-based regular members.
The LPP headquarters and regional offices are located at all ALU buildings and offices in nine regions.