Simultaneous with eradicating bad governance, energising the economy, and elevating the living standards of the people, the Bangon administration will strengthen the moral resolve of the Filipino people to take a more direct hand in plotting their own destinies and strengthening their tools and means towards self-determination through a series of programs that would empower them. It is a situation of unrighteousness when people are left powerless and helpless to take care of themselves or better their conditions. Righteousness demands that people be empowered.
Along with the other programs of the Bangon platform, the Bangon Administration intends to empower the people:
A. Economically
1. By generating the growth of small, medium and large-scale enterprises in producing the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter and educating, organizing and mobilizing the people to this end: SME GENERATION, GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT shall be a Centerpiece Program of the Party.
2. By establishing a Green, Biodiverse and Sustainable Agricultural, Agroforestry and Fisheries Security and Productivity Program supportive of agrarian reform that will ensure:
a. Prioritization of irrigation infrastructure systems, farm-to-market roads and post-production facilities
b. Government subsidy for procurement of indigenous seeds, fingerlings and organic fish food, fertilizers and pesticides
c. Tax exemption for local manufacture of farm implements and machines
d. Assured purchase of agricultural and agro-forestry products and marketing of agricultural and agroforesty produce to foreign markets via inter-nation trade
e. Establishment of large stretches of green, biodiverse and sustainable agroforestry areas in every province and municipality
B. Politically
1. By strictly enforcing the Freedom of Information Act
2. By empowering Local Government Units, either through federalism if it shall be considered by the people’s representatives in a Constitutional Convention and ratified by the people, or the Assured Regional Pie Policy explained in Item II hereof, and/or by giving teeth or substance to the Economic Rent Principle enshrined in the Local Government Code;
3. By propagating the use of the PHILIPPINE EAGLE, (already declared by law as the national bird), as the symbol of the new Philippines, the Philippine Eagle being stronger and bigger even than the American Bald Eagle, and more accurately depicting the new Filipino resolve to arise (“bangon”) to new heights of righteousness in governance and peace and progress in the land; the Philippine monkey-eating eagle will also symbolize that the new Philippines will “eat” or devour any monkey-business in governance
4. By aiding the cause of Justice for the Poor that will enable:
a. Granting of pro-bono handling incentives to private law firms and practitioners by assigning tax deductibility percentages to said cases
b. Working with the Supreme Court to allow said handling of pro-bono cases as equivalent to certain MCLE credits
c. Encouraging law schools and/or law centers to handle pro-bono or public interest cases, and granting appropriate incentives for the same
5. By ensuring freedom of speech and the press through:
a. The Magna Carta for Journalists as envisioned by journalists, broadcasters and bloggers
b. The Freedom of Information Act
c. The quashing of the Right of Reply Bill
6. By protecting human rights, including women’s rights and children’s rights, and ensuring its full exercise by all citizens.
Position on Reproductive Health Bill
Bangon Pilipinas firmly believes that the life of the unborn child begins at the time of conception. As such, we do not and will not advocate, institutionalize and/or legalize any practice of abortion or the use of any abortion-inducing pills or drugs designed to terminate the life of an unborn fetus. Neither will the Party promote, advocate nor institutionalize the practice and use of any artificial contraceptive devices. However, believing in the divine right of every individual to “free will” or the “right of choice”, Bangon Pilipinas believes that the State, as the guardian and as the constitutional protector of every facet of human rights of every Filipino, should not, in any way, shape or form, interfere with the individual’s inherent right of discretion and/or right to choose which birth control measures, artificial or otherwise, he/she may deem proper and appropriate under his/her particular circumstances, and according to his/her faith or conscience.
Furthermore, Bangon Pilipinas believes that:
a. the so-called “population explosion” is not the cause of poverty; rather, it is the effect of poverty;
b. the real, more primordial issue, is the issue of equitable sharing of resources
c. abortion-inducing drugs should never be classified as common drugs or over the counter-medicine
d. the health and welfare of women and babies is important to the state
e. moral values should be taught, more than technology or device
f. children and youth should be protected from any unnecessary and unhealthy exposure to sexual information
7. By adopting, in the field of FOREIGN AND GLOBAL RELATIONS:
a. The Policy of Global Community Participation vs Globalized Co-optation and Destruction, which means:
- Bangon Pilipinas does not believe in globalization that destroys the nation
- Bangon rejects all notions of a new world order or one world government
- Bangon, however, affirms the need for nations of the world to interact harmoniously in an atmosphere of justice, fair play and mutual respect: this is the policy of Global Community Participation
- The only way for the Philippines to be a respected player in the global community is for the Philippines to strengthen itself nationally through honest and righteous governance and a self-sustaining and exporting economy
b. The Policy of Self-Respect before International Respect
- Before we can be respected by the international community, we must respect ourselves first
- The Bangon Administration will launch a Program to Enhance Filipino Self-Respect consisting of nationally coordinated and directed campaigns:
- Teaching Philippine pre-history, history, culture and society in governmental structures from the top down to instill Pride in the Filipino
- Cleaning up streets, rivers, esteros and surroundings and teaching the people how to maintain these
- Cleaning up the bureaucracy of corruption from the top down and encouraging the people to watch the national and local government nearest them
8. By recognizing the special role of (Overseas Filipino Workers) OFWs in nation-building.
Bangon believes that it is sad for Filipinos to leave their families by having to work abroad, not out of desire but out of sheer economic necessity. An ultimate objective of the Bangon Administration is to establish an economic environment where it will no longer be necessary for Filipinos to leave their families behind, with children growing up without their parents, or brothers or sisters, by ensuring that there are sufficient economic opportunities at home. However, this cannot be done overnight. In the meantime, Bangon will set up:
a. An OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKER SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM (OFWSSS) where OFWs can pay their premiums or remittances through special arrangement with Philippine banks abroad where they work, the fund to be deposited in government treasury shares managed by the OFWSSS
b. Special Assistance Desks in main OFW ports of entry/exit as well as in every Philippine embassy
c. Family Support Programs for OFW families left in the Philippines, with particular emphasis on training these families in entrepreneurship as a way of doubling OFW remittances
d. An OFW Re-Entry and Re-Integration Program to facilitate their set-up of businesses in the Philippines upon return
e. A Presidential Office on OFW Action to pay special attention to OFWs
f. Treaties for mutual and shared responsibility with other governments in the matter of protection of OFWs