COUNTRY'S INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SCIENTISTS FORM PARTY LIST

After long years of freedom curtailment under martial law, the authors of our present constitution must have been so obsessed then in looking for new ways that would strengthen our new democracy. The idea of including the party list system in the country’s electoral process is a solid proof of this obsession! The rationale of the party list system is that there are sectors, which badly need representation in congress so that bills that should directly benefit them could be crafted and eventually passed into laws.

But since these sectors>do not have a fighting chance against the well-oiled political machinery of the dominant political> parties, the constitution provides that they may form their parties. They shall then apply for accreditation by the Commission on Elections. If they meet the required qualifications of a party list, they are accredited and allowed to campaign.

If their parties get the required number of votes,their nominees will then become congressmen.

In its early years of implementation, the Filipinos were so excited about it that almost all sectors want to be accredited: from the war, veterans, to the farmers, to the women, to the youth, and even to hold your breath, an anti drug group named MAD for Mamamayang Ayaw sa Droga!

In fact,> actor Richard Gomez who claimed to be a nominee of MAD almost became the Honorable Congressman Richard> Gomez!

For the coming May 14 elections, the latest sector to throw their political hat into the political ring via the party list system are the top national scientists with no less than former University of the Philippines System President Dr. Emil Q. Javier as its National President. The scientists call their party as AGHAM or Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Mamamayan, Inc.

Agham’s flyer says that it is a national sectoral organization of Filipino science workers most of whom are field and laboratory research assistants, technicians and laborers, as well as science and mathematics teachers, extension agents, engineers, inventors, health professionals, and science media practitioners and otherwise ordinary Filipino citizens who strongly advocate a science and technology-explicit national development agenda.

It> is a non-stock, non-profit corporation registered with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and is accredited by the COMELEC in the party list.

The entry of the real top caliber scientists (its nominees are awardees of numerous prestigious, international and local recognition for their achievements in their specific field of science and technology) in the political system is perhaps the best thing that ever happen in the country’s political processes.

AGHAM’s nominees are no doubt among the best minds that this country has ever produced: First nominee is Dr. Emil Q. Javier, former UP System President, former UP at Los Banos Chancellor and current President of the National Academy of Science and Technology. The second nominee is a muslim brother –> Saeed A. Daof, who is a peace advocate and currently the Director of the Center for the Promotion of Peace and Development in Mindanao . The third nominee is Dr. Angel Alcala – former Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and former President of Silliman University.

With AGHAM’s offer to serve the country, here is a wish that the Filipino voters would not miss this rare opportunity of sending the nominees of the most qualified party list to congress. As the country tides over the 21st century beset with scientific issues (issues such as global warming,computer-hacking, genetic engineering, etc…) we need AGHAM nominees in Congress to take the lead in drafting legislative measures that would scientifically address the issues!