Bayan Muna
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The Bayan Muna (English: People First) is a political party in the Philippines. It is a proponent of the National Democratic movement.[citation needed]
The motto of the party is "New Politics, the Politics of Change"[citation needed], against "traditional, elitist, pro-imperialist politics".[citation needed] Its platform includes the advocation of a government that progressively supports the working class, with meaningful representation of democratic sectors. Bayan Muna is the one most popular party-list parties.[citation needed]
Bayan Muna advocates land reform or redistribution of land and pro-Filipino industrialization similar to the policies implemented by the Quezon and Aquino governments.[citation needed]
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[edit] History
Bayan Muna was formed in 1999 by representatives of grassroots-based people's organizations under the umbrella group BAYAN (Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, New Patriotic Alliance).
Due to its role in the 2001 EDSA Revolution, it won the most votes for partylist representatives in two consecutive elections. The party's representatives in Congress includes Satur Ocampo, Crispin Beltran, Liza Maza, Teodoro Casiño, and Joel Virador in office. Maza and Beltran subsequently resigned to assume leadership roles in Bayan Muna's affiliated parties GABRIELA and Anakpawis, respectively. Currently, these three parties lead the
Currently, the party opposes Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's presidency on claims of corruption due to the Hello Garci controversy as well as allegations over widespread human rights abuses.
[edit] Criticism
Bayan Muna has backed laws that would increase the minimum wage without regard to worker productivity, which were criticised by the business sector due to their possible effects on inflation. Other criticisms include that the laws they support make it more expensive to fire workers regardless of justification, thus promoting rent-seeking behavior. [1][2]
Bayan Muna's members - including Ocampo - have also been accused of being former members of, and having links to the country's long-running Communist insurgency which is still being spearheaded by the New People's Army.
[edit] References
- ^ Sicat, Gerardo (April 2004). Discussion Paper No.0404: Reforming the Philippine Labor Market. University of the Philippines School of Economics. Retrieved on 2007-01-17.
- ^ Sicat, Gerardo (April 2004). Discussion Paper No.0403: "Successes" and Adjustments in the Philippine Labor Market. University of the Philippines School of Economics. Retrieved on 2007-01-17.
