THE Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is moving the venue of its National Convention scheduled on September 8 from Bulacan to Pampanga in compliance with the latest quarantine classification of Bulacan set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IAF-MEID).
In a meeting chaired Tuesday, September 7, by PDP-Laban president Secretary Alfonso Cusi, the PDP-Laban National Executive Committee decided to move the venue of the National Convention to the City of San Fernando, Pampanga after the earlier venue, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan, was retained under modified enhanced community quarantine
“PDP-Laban has always complied with all quarantine protocols set by the National Government in all our activities. Our national convention will be no exemption and we will do our part to defeat Covid-19,” said Cusi.
The party’s chairman, President Rodrigo Duterte, will lead the national convention. PDP-Laban is the first among the major political parties to hold its national convention for the 2022 national and local elections.
The country is eagerly awaiting the ruling party’s national convention because under Section 3, Article XVIII of the Party Constitution, it is the national assembly which shall nominate and proclaim the Party’s official candidates in the 2022 national election during it’s National Convention.
In the national assembly attended by Duterte last July 17, 2021 in Clark, Pampanga, it was decided that the party’s national convention will be held on September 8.
The convention is in accordance with Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 10695, which states that September 1, 2021 to September 28, 2021 as the period allowed to conduct political conventions to select and nominate official candidates for all elective positions.
Cusi said that due to heightened health and security protocols, voting Members of the national assembly shall be given priority access to the venue. This include the chairman and vice-chairman of national council, national officers, presidents and secretaries general of all regional councils, national committee chairpersons, regional council presidents, regional secretaries general, Cabinet members, senators, members of the House of Representatives, provincial governors, city mayors of highly urbanized and independent component cities, and chapters in good standing.
He said that only those members who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will be allowed to attend physically during the national convention. They are required to bring a copy of their vaccination card.
“All members attending physically at the venue are required to present their valid RT-PCR Tests. The RT-PCR Test result should be administered not more than 48 hours prior to the event. On-site antigen testing will also be conducted,” he said.
He added that voting members who cannot attend physically are encouraged to join via Zoom. Non-voting members are advised to join via zoom due to limited venue capacity in compliance to health and safety protocols. (PR)