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President Arroyo and Congressman Villafuerte, KAMPI national president, discuss urgent issues while watching on-stage the KAMPI national convention proceedings last February 12. Manila Hotel Fiesta Pavilion could not accommodate more then 3,000 delegates from all over the country, mostly elective officials who attended the convention. |
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(Excerpts from the message of Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte at the Kampi National Convention at the Manila Hotel on February 12, 2007)
We are gathered today at an opportune time when the role of our party, the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino or KAMPI as a major political party is being defined and clarified.
We are in the crucial stage and process of establishing the parameters on how and where we stand even as we affirm constructive support for vital programs and policies of the present national leadership under
Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
But we must now be able to crystallize the prerogatives and pinpoint the responsibilities of KAMPI as a political party that is committed to provide vigorous and effective support for programs that would accelerate socio-economic growth, actualize reforms, bring the government much closer to the people, promote unity and reconciliation and enhance the international image of our country.
For indeed, as a political party KAMPI has the stature, the strength and the perseverance to pursue the goals of our party. We now have in KAMPI the second biggest number of congressmen among political parties in the country. Our membership among local officials from governors, vice governors, board members, mayors and councilors has also dramatically increased not only in number but also in geographical coverage.
And, the number is growing and will continue to grow!
To me this phenomenal growth of KAMPI is indicative of the approval and acceptance of political leaders throughout the country of the objectives, internal and external policies of our party and our stand on national and international issues. And I wish to emphasize here that we have grown in size and number out of the free and voluntary will of new members who share our conviction and principles.
We stand firmly and unequivocably on our commitment to support every significant program of the government under President Arroyo – from those that would enhance economic and social growth to those that would institutionalize reforms and those that would bolster our international image, particularly in very sensitive areas of environment, information and communication technology, science and technology transfer, as well as in providing investment incentives. Today, with its expanded membership, KAMPI is now in vantage position to help push more aggressively vital programs of the national government. Time has come for us to join hands, work together towards our vision of better life for all and put behind us the rancor and bitterness of the past.
As the party founded no less by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, KAMPI should be in the forefront in all her efforts to push this country forward. It is a matter of duty and it is a matter of responsibility for this party.
In assuming our role among the phalanx of supporters of the President we shall be guided by the primary need to harmonize with other political parties aligned with the administration. We shall move very carefully as we endeavor to thresh out with coalition partners problems that may arise as we field our candidates throughout the country. Wherever there are intra-party differences we shall initiate arbitration in pursuit of mutually acceptable solutions. We believe we can be effective and productive as coalition partners only if communication lines are free and open and there is consistent willingness and readiness among us to promptly sit down and discuss common areas of concern.
Indeed, there is no substitute for conciliation and understanding especially at this time when the country has been lamentably torn in fragments by too much negativism and too much divisiveness.
It is our resolve that even as KAMPI continues to gather strength it shall at the same time serve to promote understanding and unity and continue more intensely to sow the seeds of harmony.
We believe that an atmosphere of sincerity, mutual respect and reasonable tolerance is a precondition to the productive co-existence of coalition partners. But sustained rapport will be more easily attainable if we set specific guidelines and ethical standards in our relationship with coalition partners.
With such guidelines and standard established it would not be difficult, for instance, to arrive at equitable and reasonable delineation of responsibility in the task of helping the administration achieve its goals for our people.
Together, therefore, let us plan out ways and means to nourish the growth of KAMPI anchored on the basic principle of respectable, equitable and harmonious relationship with our coalition partners.
And as we do so, let us build together the distinctive role of KAMPI as the party of innovative and progressive ideas, the party of definite goals and direction, unwavering in its commitments and unrelenting in its support for Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as she guides this country to the horizon of peace, stability and prosperity!
