Professionals form political group

MANILA, Philippines - A group of young professionals has formed the Centrist Democratic Movement Federation of the Philippines (CDMFP) to develop “principled politics” among young leaders in the country.

CDMFP president Roderico Dumaug Jr. said the group, with the support and guidance of the Germany’s Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the Centrist Democracy Political Institute (CDPI), has set a series of training conferences for young professionals and leaders.

Dumaug said the CDMFP aims to answer the need for a genuine political organization anchored on democratic principles and values. He said the current political party system has failed to provide a party based on real political principles and platforms.

“With the CDMFP, young leaders now have a political group to go to wherein they can participate in political debates and discussions,” he said.

The CDMFP is guided by Lito Monico Lorenzana, former undersecretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government and president of the CDPI, and Peter Koeppinger, resident representative to the Philippines of the KAS.

Koeppinger said the leadership training of CDMFP members would polish fundamental skills of young professionals to become “something of great value to this country. “

Resource persons who participated in previous leadership training sessions included Francis Manglapus, secretary general of Centrist Democrat International Asia Pacific; Danilo Coronacion, top management expert and former head of the Philippine Coconut Authority; Sabine Weiss, member of parliament of Germany; retired general and former National Security adviser Jose Almonte, and former President Fidel Ramos.