Political Party Development

What are Political Parties and their role in Democracy?

Political Parties are democratic institutions where citizen participation in governance is encouraged and promoted. They are groups/organizations composed of members that share the same ideologies/ principles on how the state should be governed. Political parties also act as a transmission belt of information to and from its constituents. It also becomes the training ground of leaders and party workers, the embodiment of the aspirations of its constituency, and the organizational machinery for electoral campaigns and governance. Political Parties play a crucial role in a democracy to veer away from personality politics but rather stress on issues and political platforms.

sectoral groups, are governed by the party-list law. Nonetheless, party-list groups are not restrained from developing to become Political Parties.

How will the proposed measure deter political dynasties, electoral fraud, turncoatism?
The proposed measure is aimed at instituting fair and democratic rules among political candidates and parties.

How does party development impact on the lives of ordinary Filipinos?

An institutionalized and democratic Political Party System helps attain genuine democratic good governance and provide wider room for political participation among the citizens. Also, a government that is governed with genuine political parties that have clear platforms and ideologies can ensure implementation of long-term policies to address problems concerning the economy, environment, society, culture, and human rights.

What are the issues that the Political Party Development Bill try to address?
Promote and institutionalize platform-based politics that represents the will of the people. Widening and democratizing the party constituency. Strengthening party loyalty and discipline. Ensuring a level playing field among contesting candidates and parties. Regulating campaign financing and by promoting transparency.

State Subsidy
What is the State Subsidy Fund?
It refers to the fund which shall be used to augment the operating funds of the Accredited Political Parties. It shall be used directly and exclusively for the following purposes only: (a) Party development; and (b) Campaign expenditures.

Who is an Accredited National Political Party?

The Senate Version states that Accredited NATIONAL Political Party refers to a Political Party qualified to receive subsidy for party development and campaign purposes, accredited for this purpose by the Commission based on a set of criteria provided under this act. The House Version states that Accredited Political Party, refers to a Political Party qualified to receive subsidy for party development and campaign purposes, accredited for this purpose by the Commission based on a set of criteria provided under this act.

Who are entitled/ qualified to State Subsidy?

The proposed measure has set the following Criteria for Eligibility of political parties to receive from the Subsidy from the State Subsidy Fund: 1. Political Representation, consisting of the incumbent president, members of congress, governors, vice-governors, city-municipal mayors and vice-mayors; 2. Organizational strength and mobilization capability 3. Performance and track record of the party

Who is a Political Turncoat?

The Senate version of the Bill defines POLITICAL TURNCOATISM as the act of changing party affiliation by any candidate WITHIN (8) EIGHT MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ELECTION. Meanwhile, the House version defines POLITICAL TURNCOATISM the act of changing party affiliation by an elected official, during his/her term, EXCEPT WITHIN 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE END OF HIS/HER TERM

Why do we need to subsidize Political Parties?

The State Subsidy is meant to provide the minimum resources for party building, leverage for auditing, transparency, and accountability in the sourcing of expenditures of party and campaign funds, and for enhancing party authority and influence on their candidates and members. It would also enhance the capability of political parties to research, educate, and advocate for their respective agenda. The strengthening of political parties can lead to their maturation as a democratic institution. In turn, this contributes in a major way to the maturation of Philippine democracy and the institutionalization of democratic political practices.

Why are party-lists not included in the definition of the bill?

The Party-list groups are constitutionally part of the proportional representation mechanism at the House of Representatives. As such, the party-lists, representing

What will be the source of the State Subsidy Fund?

The proposed measure states that the amount is appropriated out of the funds of the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated. The senate version is allocating the amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos (500,000,000.00) while the House of Representatives is allocating the amount of Three Hundred Fifty Million Pesos (P350, 000,000.00). This is proposed to be a certain percentage of the Priority Development Fund (PDAF).

How will the Subsidy Fund distributed?

The fund will be distributed on the basis of number of seats in Congress that an Accredited Political Party holds. Further, the funds that can be disbursed is only equal to the matching funds that the Party generates on its own.

Campaign Finance
How will it level the playing field?
By instituting limits, incentives, and transparent and effective accountability mechanisms such as limits on fund contributions and campaign expenditures, defining legal expenditures, audit of the party finances, instituting punishments for illegal acts, strengthening Comelec supervisory functions, and participation of civil society. The proposed measure intends to strictly regulate campaign contributions, on the one hand, and campaign expenditures on the other.

How will it strictly regulate campaign contributions and campaign expenditures?

The proposed bill shall institute stiffer penalties for violators and it proposes to strengthen the role of the Commission on Elections by creating department within the commission that is tasked to supervise and regulate campaign financing.

Will there be an audit mechanism?

The bill has provided that the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) are tasked to design and implement a monitoring and reporting system. It shall be conducted through consultation with political parties, accredited citizen's arms, the private sector, nongovernment organizations, and government agencies. Given that transparency and accountability are necessary ingredients of a truly democratic country, the proposed measure requires all political parties to make full disclosure of all contributions and expenditures.