Subsidizing political parties / Newsman Laurence Balonglong writes 30
>> Monday, November 12, 2012
BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon
Moves
by the Senate and House of Representatives to subsidize political parties has
created a ripple effect on discussions of their viability and whether this
could apply in this country where corruption in government is proving it could
not be licked only by daang matuwid
statements.
Pundits
are saying if political parties would be subsidized, these would mushroom like
Party-Lists and add more to burden of taxpayers while those in government are
spending millions of their money on whim and caprice like there was no
tomorrow.
Whether these proposals would add more to corruption or not,
let us first hear it from proponents.
According to Sen. Edgardo Angara, the
proposed government subsidy to political parties would strengthen the country’s party system and help make
elections fairer and more equitable.
Angara, chairman and
president of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), said that government
funding for political parties is a common feature in many countries with mature
democracies like Canada, Germany, Australia, France, the United Kingdom, and
the United States.
“In 2008, the United
States government allotted $16.3 million to its political parties, while the
United Kingdom grants 2 million annually. The underlying principle there is
that a country’s politics can be developed and made more equitable if the state
supports political organizations with their campaigns and finances,” Angara
said in a press statement.
He added that by
acting as a neutral third party in this manner, the state provides baseline
support to political parties and eases their need to turn to moneyed
personalities for funding.
Angara is one of the
main proponents of the Political Party Development Act (PPDA) in the Senate,
which among other things creates a State Subsidy Fund – amounting to P350
million – that accredited national political parties could use exclusively for
campaign expenditures and routine operations like civic education, research and
policy development, recruitment, and training for members.
“On one hand, the fund
can be used to professionalize and enhance the operations of political parties.
On the other, it empowers them to truly represent the interests of their
constituents rather than remain beholden to private contributors,” said Angara,
a former UP president.
The proposed PPDA or
Senate Bill 3214 seeks a subsidy that would be proportionately shared among
accredited national parties based on three broad criteria: political
representation; organizational strength and mobilization capability; and
performance and track record of the party.
The Senate version of the measure
provides that 10 percent of the total fund would be allotted to the Commission on Elections for monitoring
purposes and the conduct of information dissemination and voters’ education
activities.
The remaining 90
percent will be distributed based on the number of seats the political party
had obtained in the most recent general elections for the Senate, the House of Representatives, and local elective
positions including those for governor, mayor and city or provincial legislative councils.
The measure then
mandates the Comelec to draft the law’s implementing rules and regulations,
including the formula on how the State Subsidy Fund will be proportionately
disbursed.
“The bill also puts
clear limits to voluntary contributions from natural persons and juridical
persons like corporations. Parties will also have to furnish reports on
campaign expenditures and activities to the Commission on Audit to further
institutionalize transparency and accountability,” Angara said.
The PPDA provides that
the share of the political party in the State Subsidy Fund will only be
released upon proof that it has raised the equivalent amount of funds from
membership dues and voluntary contributions.
“A rule like this puts
more pressure on the party to keep their members loyal and active,” added
Angara, noting that the PPDA also penalizes political turncoats.
“What we want is to
redefine politics in the Philippines and address some of the trust issues
between government officials and citizens. In a way, this state subsidy is just
one of the ‘costs of democracy’ that we have to bear to enact real change.”
The Senate version of
the PPDA is still pending on the committee level, while the House
version has already been passed on third reading.
***
Our condolence to the family of newsman Lawrence ‘Bannawe’Balonglong
who passed away Wednesday. Laurence worked as announcer of Bombo Radio and
anchorman of Mountain Cable. For a time, he also wrote a column for the
Northern Philippine Times.
He was interred at the Baguio Memorial Chapel where
media held a tribute for him Friday.
His friends and acquaintances would surely miss
Lawrence who was always smiling and always put in a good word for people. Godspeed my friend
and till then.
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