By Jun Enriquez
Video file: Mr. Hendrik Mollenhauer, DEPADEV Project Manager,
Davao
City - Democratic Party Development (DEPADEV) – Bangsamoro, a non-government
organization (NGO) based in Cotabato City conducted a training on political
party development held in Davao City on July 20-22, 2016.The main goal of the
training is to empower the civil society to actively participate in political
decision processes which are at the basis of political pluralism. In this
context, seminars and training activities will be implemented which are
addressed to the various religious and non- religious groups inside the future
Bangsamoro area. The project is managed by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS)
Philippines in Makati City, jointly implemented by Institute of Autonomy and Governance
(IAG) in Cotabato City and funded by the European Union. There were at least 50
participants coming different places in Mindanao attended the three-day
training.
Group photo of the Training Participants |
Dr.
Mohamed Nawab Osman, Assistant professor, coordinator of Malaysia programme,
Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nayang Technological University,
was the speaker on day one of the training. He discussed the topics on the
state of politics in Southeast Asia, and Islam and Politics. A participant asked
if separation of Mindanao is considered as an option. Osman said that
separation was not considered as an option in his study. Understanding civil
society is very important. It is understood that civil societies are voluntary
composed of non-government Organizations (NGOs) and peoples Organizations (POs),
but they are think-tanks and have respectful laws to follow. The CSOs role and
political role are separate. The Issue of corruption is exclusive to
politicians while the CSOs will monitor abuses.
Osman
said in Malaysia, investigation of the case on corruption was conducted involved
huge amount of government funds allegedly transferred to the personal account
of the Prime Minister. The Members of the parliament of the ruling party was supported
by the CSOs. The government cannot function effectively without the support of
the civil society political participation. The CSOs will have to promote views focus
on particular issues, participate in the peace process through peacebuilding
activities.
Citing
the case in Indonesia had experienced the improved relationships among the
Christians and Muslims. There is possibility that civil society groups form
political parties depending on political context, such as the Muhammadiyah and
National mandate party, the Tehreek-e-Insaf Party in Pakistan. However, political
party has nothing to do with civil society. As in the case in Pakistan, a
concept for change cannot be translated without political power. In a case
study on political parties, the Muhammadiyah in Indonesia was founded in 1912
by Kiyai Ahmad Dahlan. In 1997 Amien Rais, chairman of Muhammadiyah led the
reform movement calling for Suharto to step down.
Osman
said that in Singapore there was an Association of Muslim professionals founded
in 1990 following the first Malay-Muslim Professionals convention. The issues
of concerns are the economic underprivileged, performance of the Muslim members
of Parliament, perceived discrimination of Malays such as representation in the
Singapore Armed forces, among others. They established different outfits to
deal with different challenges. Some observations have been found out that
there was no Muslim in the armed forces. Time goes on and things change, and presently
there is already a Muslim general in the armed forces. Pregnant Muslim women already
received assistance from the government and there is now an education
scholarship for the Muslims. However the political context is illiberal
democracy with history of discord with the Singaporean government. In 1990 to
2005, it was the time of defending Muslim rights in Singapore. Started in 2005 up
to the present the Muslims in Singapore are now working within the system.
Osman Observed that political parties funded by the government is not so much
effective unless to do otherwise.
Mr. Mollenhauer awarded certicate to Miss Tina Lomoljo, Executive Director, BIRTHDEV, Inc. Iligan City, assisted by Mr. Narciso Jover, Jr. |
Mr.
Narciso Jover, Jr., DEPADEV training expert facilitated a workshop on political
parties has considered the three things in political party situation in the Philippines
was motivated by money. It was found out, first, that no political party
engaging across sectors, example, the Party-list. Second, no political party
with membership among the Muslims and Christians and third, lack of
understanding of political parties on how the people participates.
On the
second day of the training, Mr. Patrick Asinero, coordinator of Centrist Democracy
for Youth Association of the Philippines (CDYAP), facilitated the topic on
political parties. He discussed a party was started from a movement to a
political party and creates party structure and organization with designed political
party’s constitution and by-laws. Other discussions included the political
party interest, Ideology corrupted-political party principles, voluntary
participation in political party, collaboration between the CSOs and political
party and discussed its commonalities and differences. Workshop results came
out the common attributes of CSOs and political party have the same objectives
and principles, representation, volunteerism, service oriented, has agenda,
among others, but differ on the implementation, principles, loyalty, among
others.
Political
party is a political group with official name participates in the elections and
have candidates for public office. Most of the criteria for political parties
will influence the formation of political opinion. It is an association of
citizens and members consistently taking part during elections and does not
necessarily need to win. In Germany political parties and CSOs are subsidized by
the government. CSOs in the Philippines are separate from political parties on
the principles of check and balance. Political parties are usually funded by
social elites and intellectuals around a group of influential supporters. It is
founded by citizens seeking support of like-minded people to achieve political
or social change.
Miss April Dela Cruz |
On the
third day of the training, it was facilitated by Miss April Dela Cruz,
Education and training coordinator of the Centrist Democracy Political
Institute (CDPI). She discussed the topic on Political Party Membership. She
paused a question “Bakit magulo ang politika sa Pilipinas?” why is it the
political situation in the Philippines is complicated? It was believed that
there exists a Problem on political system.
Most
often public positions on issues will be debated in the party that adhering party
principles. Internal democratic structure is equated internal democracy. There
must be an election of officers and criteria for the selection of leaders on a democratic
process based on the constitution and by-laws of the party. If conflicts of
ideas and disagreements arise will come to a decision to divide the house and
observe majority rules. Transparent process on official party stand, sometimes
will have compromise to come up with a final decision. A member has the right
not to support and has the freedom to leave the party. The party has the
prerogative to drop the member from its roster especially on disloyalty. There
is so called conscience vote based on personal conscience on its individual
decision. Autonomy and party loyalty of
sector association linked with political party, maintain its Independence, Autonomy,
Freedom and Self-reliance. Barangay elections in the Philippines are not
allowed to exercise political party, any elections must have political party.
Some
politicians believed that political parties are for political convenience only transferring
from one party to another labeled as political butterfly. There is a need to
enact laws to strengthen the political system and subsidy to political party
will receive funds from the government to finance party development. Political
party must also raise their own funds for party subsidiarity. House Bill 403,
the Political Party development Act, was authored by Senator Angara when he was
still in the House of Representatives now a pending Bill. Political reform on Federalism
is needed for the country from highly centralize government called unitary form
to decentralize government called federal form. On this system there will be equitable
distribution of political and economic power to federal states.
A
membership fee or dues is required from the member to claim ownership of the
party. Non-paying dues members have no voting power but can still participate
in deliberations. Political parties will have to accept donations and engage on
entrepreneurial activities to generate funds for the party. The strong
political party shall maintain administrative and financial management for
transparency and accountability and attract more members for expansion.
Some
participants expressed their concern to for the continuation of the GPH-MILF
peace process to solve the problem on the failed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in
congress during the last administration but hoping for good under the Duterte
administration. It was observed that the training is in preparation for the
political reform specifically on federalism to accommodate BBL. The youth
participants said they earned a lot of things and awareness on political
development during the training. The challenges of the non-Moro CSOs is the
participation and their role in party development in the Bangsamoro, but they
were committed to continue working on the quest for in Mindanao.
Mr.
Hendrik Mollenhauer, DEPADEV Project Manager in his message after the training
said that he is hoping that the training shared good learning to the
participants and the role of CSOs acquired more knowledge on how to engage in
politics in different places in the provinces up to the Barangays. He said that
they are working with different groups and the existing parties including the
CDP and United Bangsamoro Justice party (UBJP) for the future Bangsamoro. Mollenhauer said that the Bangsamoro also
needs a strong CSOs and he addressed such concern to the participants, the
challenge to continue the good works they have started. He said that KAS and
IAG will continue engage and be involved in the future in shaping of the
Bangsamoro parliamentary system. The objectives of
the training build a foundation on which active civil society participation
within the autonomous region will be possible. By being organized and
registered political parties, supporters, members and leaders of those parties
can integrate their programs into political processes.
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