...the greater PHL role

Intl democracies group wants PHL to take leadership role

August 24, 2013

GMA News

A Warsaw-based international democracy group wants a greater leadership role by the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

 

 

The DFA said Community of Democracies (CD) secretary general Ambassador Maria Leissner wants the Philippines to chair or co-chair a Working Group within the grouping.

 

 

Leissner told Philippine Ambassador to Poland Patricia Ann Paez during an Aug. 13 meeting at the Philippine Embassy that the Philippines could chair or co-chair the Working Group on Democracy and Development, or "other working groups which would be of interest to the Philippines."

 

 

In a news release, the DFA said Leissner will visit Manila in November for a speaking engagement during the 20th anniversary of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD).

 

 

Paez said the Philippines initiated the formation of the International Conference of New and Restored Democracies (ICNRD) in 1988 during the term of then-President Corazon Aquino.

 

 

Mrs. Aquino was installed in Malacañang through a peaceful revolt that ousted then President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

 

 

Leissner suggested that the ICNRD be associated or affiliated with the CD.

 

 

Open govt partnership

 

 

The DFA said Leissner also inquired if the Philippines is a member of Open Government Partnership (OGP), an initiative of US President Barack Obama to foster transparency and accountability by governments.

 

 

Paez told her the Philippines is one of the eight original members of the OGP's Steering Committee, adding President Benigno Aquino III attended the OGP’s launching in New York.

 

 

She added the Philippines was chosen to be one of the Steering Committee members in recognition of the Aquino administration's efforts against graft.

 

 

Philippine Budget Secretary Florencio Abad serves as the Philippine government’s lead person for the OGP, she said.
 

Meanwhile, Paez said she will propose a program of activities for Leissner's official visit to the Philippines, including a possible meeting with women's groups.
 

The CD is an intergovernmental organization established in 2000 to strengthen democracy worldwide by providing support to emerging democracies and civil society.

 

 

Its current president is El Salvador, even as the Philippines and Poland are members of the 24-member Governing Council of the CD. — VVP, GMA News