‘Involve party-list groups in peace talks with rebels’

MAUBAN, Quezon — Party-list groups can spur economic activities in the hinterlands, according to lawyer and certified public accountant Eladio Pasamba, a member of the Quezon Sangguniang Pan—lalawigan representing the first district.

Pasamba is batting for the inclusion of party-list groups in the ongoing negotiations between the government and communist rebels.

Party-list groups, he said, are most eager to see an end to the decades-long insurgency and can be an important instrument, be it at the national or local level of the peace talks.

"They are fully aware that it is only through lasting peace that the country can look forward to meaningful changes," he said in a statement.

"The party-list system is a meaningful step in the pursuit of genuine democracy and the key to improving the plight of the marginalized and underprivileged sector of the society whose interests, welfare and advocacies have largely been ignored," he added.

By all means, Pasamba said peace must be given a chance because it is only through it that the country’s economic crisis can be addressed.

He cited the case of Quezon, which has an enormous potential for growth but cannot pursue development activities because of the problem.

Given a chance, he said, Quezon can readily attract both local and foreign investors. In fact, the province can be the trade hub of Southern Luzon.