New Cebu-based party list formed

CEBU, Philippines - Ten months before the 2010 national elections, another party list from Cebu was formed – the Anak sa Pantalan or ASPAN, which represents the fisher folk and the labor and urban and rural poor in general.

ASPAN’s first nominee is Tomas Riveral, president of the Oriental Port and Allied Services Corporation. The other nominees include Tejero barangay captain Jessielou Cadungog and lawyer Annabel Pulvera.

ASPAN has filed its petition for registration/accreditation as a sectoral party list organization last June 25, 2009 before the Commission on Elections.

As of June 25, 2009, ASPAN has established 42 chapters in cities and municipalities across the region. Its membership include port workers, dockworkers, port vendors, pushcart operators, porters, seafarers, forwarders, boat/shipping employees/operators, arrastre/stevedoring operators, government employees in the port and maritime sector, brokers, fish vendors, fishermen, and chandlers, among others.

ASPAN said its vision statement is to have a “God-centered association of individuals who uphold the rule of law and adhere to the universally accepted principle that all men are created equal.”

The group said it shall work on “bringing the fruits of democracy and economic affluence to the marginalized communities by the uneven diffusion of national wealth and political power.”

The group is also committed “to uplift the well-being and quality of life of the port workers and all port stakeholders through enactment of legislations and programs that will provide them economic, civic, political, and social opportunities.”

So far, ASPAN members have conducted a feeding program and medical mission in barangay Tejero’s 33 sitios; clean-up drive at the surroundings of the Cebu International Port, seashores of CIP and riverside of barangay Subangdaku in Mandaue City; as well tree planting activity in Buhisan Dam in Cebu City. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO (THE FREEMAN)