Nacionalista formulates policies for Aquino

Sunday, February 12, 2012

DAGUPAN CITY -- The Nacionalista Party (NP) is in the process of formulating policies that it plans to propose to the Aquino administration.

The policies will cover poverty reduction, peace and order, and education program.

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Ace Barbers, NP spokesperson, said although NP belongs to the opposition, "It is not an opposition party out there to destroy the administration."

He said NP, which is headed by defeated presidential candidate Senator Manny Villar, is a political party that is inclined to propose policies and alternatives to the government of whoever sits in the administration.
 
NP has a research team composed of professors and members of the academe, organized to help in the formulation of national policies, which the party may propose as "an alternative program to the present administration and the subsequent administrations that would come in the future."
 
Barbers, a former governor of Surigao del Norte, said he was appointed as party spokesperson in one of their dinner meetings in their recent Middle East cruise.
 
"Isa sa mga assignments ko ay makipag-usap, umikot sa ating mga miyembro ng saganon ay ma-update yong political stock ng partido lalo na sa nalalapit na political exercise," he said.
 
He clarified that Gilbert Remulla of Cavite remains as party spokesperson, however, it was agreed that they will tackle different issues.
 
On the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, he said the party did no adopt a common stand.
 
"Walang directive ang aming presidente na dapat bumoto para sa conviction o dismissal ng impeachment case. Ang directive lang ni Nacionalista Party President Villar ay pag-aralan yong ebidensiya, i-appreciate ang ibedensiya at testimonya ng bawat witnesses. Pagdating ng time na boboto ay conscious vote dapat," he added.
 
Barbers said four or five senator judges are with the NP.
 
On the political front, Barbers said NP is ready for the 2013 midterm national and local elections.
 
"We will engage in all political exercises between now, 2013 and the future. The party has been preparing. There are lessons that we learned in the last election. Hopefully, we can improve and work on them so that sa susunod na elections and gumanda ang aming kartada," he said.
 
Barbers said NP has maintained its numbers. It has 40 members in the House of Representatives, four in the Senate and hundreds of local government officials including municipal/city mayors, governors, vice governors, board members, in different areas around the country.
 
Asked if he will run for senator in 2013, he said it will depend on his showing in surveys.

Barbers who was here Saturday afternoon paid Dagupan City Mayor Benjie Lim, a fellow NP member, a visit. He said he just came from Laoag City where he was guest at the city's Pamulinawen Festival.(Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre/Sunnex)