Aksyon Demokratiko (Aksyon)––the party founded by the late Senator Raul Roco––on Monday endorsed Luntiang Pilipinas (Luntian), a green party vying for a seat in the House of Representatives under the party list system in the coming May midterm polls.
At the ceremonial mass oath-taking of Aksyon’s candidates and new members held at the Club Filipino in San Juan, Aksyon Secretary General Ernest Ramel said it was proud to endorse Luntian saying that “Luntiang Pilipinas’ vision will address food security, jobs generation, and a sustainable green environment for the present and future of our country.”
Luntian is one of only two party list groups accredited by the Commission on Elections whose primary advocacy is the protection of the environment. There are currently a total of 181 duly-registered party list groups.
“This green principle agrees with Luntiang Pilipinas’ battle cry—environmental protection and conservation.”
Luntian first nominee Michael Ubac welcomed the endorsement and thanked Aksyon for its decision to “wholeheartedly support Luntiang Pilipinas party list.”
“Aksyon’s timely endorsement is anchored in its avowed principle to advance ecological sustainability and climate action, a key component of Aksyon’s 10-point platform of government,” said Ubac, a multi-awarded journalist who graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines.
According to Ubac, “this green principle agrees with Luntiang Pilipinas’ battle cry—environmental protection and conservation as well as upholding climate justice, especially for the vulnerable sectors of our society.”
Ubac touted the track record of Luntian, which he said is responsible for planting and growing 2 million trees in 33 provinces, 28 cities, and 84 municipalities across the country.
“As a green party list, Luntiang Pilipinas aims to better serve the Filipino people by advocating policies and measures that would lead the nation towards resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability.”
This, Ubac explained, “proves its relevance and importance as a green movement in the country.”
“Its four pillars serve as a roadmap for achieving resiliency: re-greening program (tree-growing, school-based vegetable gardening/gulayan sa paaralan, and backyard gardening), solid waste management, coastal and marine resource management, and disaster risk reduction.”
Aside from graduating with honors from UP, Ubac also has a Master’s Degree from Harvard University, where he won Director’s Prize for Outstanding ALM Thesis.
“Today’s endorsement rests on solid ground. It’s a testament to Aksyon’s principled existence and continued role on the national stage as the guardian of Sen. Roco’s outstanding legacy in public service, good governance, lawmaking and environmental conservation,” said Ubac, whose masteral thesis was titled “Building Climate Resiliency in the Philippines: A Bottom-up Approach to Implementing Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies Through Analysis of the Impacts of Supertyphoon Yolanda in 2013.”
Ubac added that “as a green party list, Luntiang Pilipinas aims to better serve the Filipino people by advocating policies and measures that would lead the nation towards resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability.”
“It seeks to have a unified and stronger voice in Congress through proposed legislative enactments to advance the interests and special concerns of the environmental sector.”
