Political parties have been with us since 1907 with the founding of the Nacionalista Party which used the party as its vehicle for independence. From then on, at least three groups emerged and formed the opposition known as Democratas. What won in the first national election of 1935 was a however not a party but a coalition of Pros and Antis. We had only one Party government for a century according to Manuel Quezon III and Julio Teehankee who assessed the development of party politics in the country. Both the Liberal Party and the Nationalist People’s Coalition were breakaways from the Partido Nacionalista. Our political party system can therefore be described as one of “coalition, ad-hoc coalition, factionalism, and multi-factionalism.”

But we recognize, as Teehankee noted, that the development of a mature and responsible party system is an important ingredient for political development.” Here, and in other democracies, parties are expected to set political agendas, nominate candidates for office, monitor the work of elected candidates, solidify the party identity and develop party discipline. They play an important role in determining leadership of legislative institutions.

SB 67, or Political Party Development Act, authored by Senator Edgardo Angara, is designed “to strengthen the party system into a medium for “political development and democratization.” A timely initiative, considering recent events that reinforce belief that parties “simply feed political motives” and therefore have become meaningless. Is this why Senator Chiz Escudero declared, after leaving his party of 12 years, that he did not have much use for political parties - that if he runs for president, he would be representing the people, or words to that effect? But is it true that after saying this, he is considering to run as VP of another political party?

Our political parties may not have the same standing like that in the more stable societies like the United States or European countries where party ideologies guide every aspect of governance. Which gives us more reason to exert effort in party building. As we have observed over the past century, parties have become “vehicles merely to win elections.” They have become personalistic. Candidates conveniently forget the issues guiding their party platform as they cater to the demands of the electorate. We are now seeing a repeat of the old practice – mergers, and political butterflies shifting from one party to the other. Political turncoatism, indicative of lack of commitment to party ideology has become an accepted behavior as there is no sanction for political chameleons.

Angara proposes that a party member who seeks to change party affiliation after being elected under that party’s ticket, should first resign from his elective position and seek a fresh mandate from the electorate. It bans the appointment of party defectors to public office until the end of the term of the current set of elected officials.

The bill will also create a Party Development Fund to subsidize national political parties in their operational expenses, party building activities, electoral campaigns and development programs. It will encourage raising funds through Party Foundation to develop self-sufficiency and lessen their dependence on contributions from illegal sources.. A similar bill, HB 3655, which was filed by his son, Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara in 2007 was approved on 3rd reading but moved back for reconsideration.

This bill deserves the support of every citizen who recognizes that our country can only attain political stability if political parties are guided by well-defined party platforms. But this would require consensus by all that we should abide by the letter of the law. We need to provide continuing advocacy and education to all including the entire electorate. We could start right now as political parties make a determined effort to shift from personality to issue-oriented campaign. My e-mail is florangel.braid@gmail.com.