Lito o son eyes congress seat: PROMDI is back

CEBU, Philippines —  The Probinsya Muna Development Initiative (PROMDI) party has been revived and plans to field its own candidates from President down to councilors as it eyes to forge alliances in different areas across the country.

The party is led by its president, former Cebu governor Emilio Mario “Lito” Osmeña Jr., who founded the party back in 1998 when he ran for President but lost to Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

With the revival of PROMDI nationwide, Osmeña announced that the candidates must adhere to the principles and platforms of the party.

“We will not be supporting personalities. We will be supporting what they stand for,” he said.

Formerly known as the Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives, PROMDI has at least three major platforms -- devolution of powers and initiatives, responsive and relevant educational system, and advanced and tactical nuclearization.

On the devolution, PROMDI will push for the immediate transfer of powers and funding from national to local government to ensure that decisions are made closer to the local people, communities and business they affect.

The educational system, the party believes, should also be responsive to the needs and wants of a particular area, hence, the imposition of national standards and assessments should be carefully reviewed.

Since the Philippines is a “small nation challenged in defending and or protecting its territorial integrity from advances by superpowers,” PROMDI likewise believes that the most cost-effective way to stand up to “bullies” is to be armed with a powerful deterrent  in the form of nuclear power, citing Pakistan and North Korea as clear examples.

‘Mimo’ for congress

Osmeña said that no other one could pursue these agenda except his son, Mimo, in Congress. He thus announced the candidacy of his son for a congressional seat representing Cebu City’s North District, which has been left vacant after the death of the late Rep. Raul del Mar.

Lito said that he wants Mimo to occupy a seat in Congress to legislate measures to realize the platforms of PROMDI, though he clarified that he will let his son decide for himself.

“I beg my son to help this country,” said the 83-year-old Lito as he encouraged more young generations to run, win or lose, as long as they stand what they believe is right.

With over three million members nationwide, Lito said the party will be focusing on the youth by engaging in social media platforms.

Aside from Lito as president, the other officers of the party are lawyer Chavi Labtic as executive vice president, Oscar Canton as secretary general, Neil Labrador as deputy secretary general, lawyer Roy Ilbay as vice president for Luzon, former Cebu vice governor Fernando Celeste as vice president for the Visayas, Andrade Lagos as vice president for Mindanao, and Caridad Onde as treasurer. — JMD (FREEMAN)