LP working to ensure next president is partymate

LP 2016 AND BEYOND. President Benigno Simeon Aquino III delivers his message during the Oathtaking of new members of the Liberal Party (LP) and Basic Orientation on Liberal Democratic for Negros Occidental at the Nature’s Village Resort, Barangay Zone 15, Talisay City, Negros Occidental Saturday May 05, 2012. Aquino is looking beyond 2016 and the Liberal Party is taking steps to ensure that his successor would come from its ranks. MALACANANG PHOTO

TALISAY CITY, Philippines – As other parties prepare for next year’s mid-term elections, President Benigno Aquino III is looking beyond 2016 and the Liberal Party is taking steps to ensure that his successor would come from its ranks.

In a speech before old stalwarts and newly inducted members from Western Visayas, Aquino indicated that six years were not enough for all the needed changes to take place.

As he did in his speech at the Asian Development Bank’s annual meeting, Aquino again spoke of alleged corruption in the past administration and how reforms have been made by his government through prudent use of funds and good governance.

“There are groups that we are talking to and they are asking questions. First, how can we be sure that the things happening now would continue even after I step down in 2016?” President Aquino said following the oath-taking of new Liberal Party members in the region.

“The second question I’m being asked is whether I am preparing someone to continue all those reforms because—we have to admit it—can we fix all of the problems in just six years? For instance, can we have an Air Force with a lot of fighter squadrons in six years?” he added.

The President cited the heavy rice importations under the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo only for the grains to rot in warehouses while, in contrast, the Department of Agriculture under his watch is en route to making the country a net exporter of rice next year.

“Now, of course, it would be sad if we would experience this kind of improvement, this kind of change and then return to past practices at the next turn,” he said.

Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III of Quezon said the continuation of the reform agenda was the reason the party was strengthening itself from the ground up.

Aquino witnessed the oath-taking of new members from among the elected officials in Western Visayas. The new members had to attend a basic orientation on the party ideology on Friday before they could take their oaths as new Liberals on Saturday.

“This is the reason why we don’t change parties,” Tañada said.