Vote for political parties with programs

Even without a parliamentary system, we can ask for programs of government of the different parties that put up presidential candidates in 2010.

Their histories are a good perspective on what can be expected of them. However dim it may seem, these parties stand for political ideas that could be evolved into party platforms.

Their programs must answer the needs and aspirations of the Filipino people.

For now, they are mere names of groups that have banded together for elections not unlike tribes in a tribal war. I have included in this list four major political parties – Nacionalista, Liberal, Lakas-CMD-KAMPI, Puwersa ng Masa and the NPC, Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Those who look beyond money and popularity — hallmarks of the presidential system — should ask questions. What can we expect from the winners of 2010? It is clear presidents, even the most powerful cannot govern a country of more than 96 million people alone. Those who have studied the present presidential system and its problems have proposed a shift to parliamentary federal government.

If we must reform our Constitution we need strong parties with programs of government that we can vote upon come elections. The first step, in my view, would be to consider their histories and how they have been revived to accommodate today’s politics.

The Nacionalista Party now headed by Senator Manuel Villar, founded in 1907, is the oldest political party in the Philippines today. As its name suggests it would or should have an essentially nationalistic platform. It was the party through which Filipinos articulated their quest for independence and hope to shape a modern nation-state. It was inactive until the Laurels revived it in the 1980s when Salvador “Doy” Laurel was looking to be presidential candidate after martial law under Marcos. Today its principal stalwarts are Sen. Manuel Villar, its expected candidate in 2010 and Sen. Ralph Recto, a descendant of the nationalist Claro M. Recto.

The Liberal Party, on the other hand was founded in 1945, as an off-shoot of the Nacionalista Party and therefore regarded as the second-oldest in the country. The party was reactivated after the assassination of Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. in 1983. He was the party’s secretary-general. The party adopted his widow, Corazon Aquino, who won as the presidential candidate of a coalition against Marcos. Since its revival, the party has become an active member of Liberal International and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats. Much of the international networking had been facilitated through the help of the controversial Friedrich Neumann Foundation. It is divided into the Atienza and Drilon groups and it is Drilon’s group that works with Liberal International. Atienza’s group, on the other hand counts on the party’s rank and file who have been left out of the party’s decision making.

Lakas-CMD (Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats) is the ruling political party. It was formed in December 1991 specifically for the 1992 Presidential elections with retired general Fidel V. Ramos and former Cebu Governor Emilio Mario R. Osmeña as its standard bearer for president and vice-president.

Like the Liberal Party it also has its international network – the Christian Democratic Party. It works closely with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in the formulation of its ideology and policies. It is the only political party in the Philippines (if not, the world) with Christians and Muslims as partners. The party that was formed after the People Power Revolution and responsible for the election of two presidents Fidel V. Ramos and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In May 2009, Lakas-CMD merged with Kampi, but not without acrimony. It is now known as the Lakas-Kampi-CMD sans its former president Cong. Jose de Venecia.

One of its principal advocacies is to shift from the present presidential system to a parliamentary federal form of government through constitutional amendments. It actively seeks peace with both Muslims and communist rebels.

Puwersa ng Masa (which means Force of the Masses) was the opposition’s coalition party in the May 14, 2001 midterm Legislative elections. It is known as Erap’s party who announced he will run for President in 2010. The coalition was formed after his ouster from the presidency in 2001. The coalition included candidates from the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and other independent candidates.

Former President Joseph Estrada ran and won as president under the banner of this political coalition party in 1998.

And last, but not least is the Nationalist People’s Coalition more known as the NPC and its main funder, Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco. The Party was founded in 1991 by then Rizal Governor Isidro Rodriguez when he left the Nacionalista Party. But it has since become more known as Danding’s party. It was the vehicle through which the businessman ran as president with then Senator Erap as his vice-president.

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There are people who would rather wish away constitutional reforms. But outside imperial Manila and national media that dominate the country, the issue is alive and proceeding at its own pace.

The problem for quick response from the national government after the recent typhoons that killed so many and damaged infrastructure has strengthened the Bicol Movement for Greater Autonomy and its resolve for constitutional amendments. They have been working at it for sometime now and have drafted a constitution for the Bicol region for ratification by Bicolanos.

Bicol is one of the most vulnerable provinces to typhoons. Flooding, landslides, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are not uncommon.

The region’s two major cities, Legazpi and Naga are barely above sea level. Although the province did not suffer as much as Metro Manila and some northern provinces, recently Bicolanos understand how slow and inadequate emergency response can be. It happened to them three years ago.

Dante Jimenez, the lead convenor of the Bicol for Greater Autonomy, wrote this column “We don’t want this to happen anymore. That is why more than ever, we are determined to pursue greater and genuine autonomy. With this setup, Bicolanos will be able to devise better strategies grounded in local realities,” he said.

It will not just wait for the national government’s aid to come, he added. Jimenez is also chairman and founder of the Volunteers vs. Crime and Corruption.

 The movement also proposes a change in sharing in terms of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) that at present favors the national government. The Bicol Movement for Greater Autonomy is campaigning more should be given to local authorities.