Bagumbayan–VNP
The Bagumbayan–Volunteers for a New Philippines (Bagumbayan–VNP) is a political party in the Philippines. It is the political party of Philippine Senator Richard Gordon. History. Bagumbayan Movement. The looming withdrawal of the Americans from the U.S naval base in Subic Bay meant the loss of over 40,000 jobs for Filipinos who were employed in the said base. Also, $8 million worth of infrastructure left behind by the Americans in the base and was in danger of being looted from outsiders, as evidenced by the looting that occurred in 1991 at the Clark Air Base due  to the aftermath of the Pinatubo eruption. To address the problems beforehand, Gordon led the citizens of Olongapo to mobilize and lobby for the inclusion of a free port concept into the national legislation for the conversion of the U.S. bases. The effort was successful, with the inclusion of the establishment of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (also known as the Subic Special Economic Zone) in Section 12 of Republic Act No. 7227, otherwise known as the Bases Conversion and Development Act, which was approved on March 13, 1992. Section 13 of the same legislation also provided for the establishment  of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which was tasked to administer the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. On April 3, 1992, Gordon was appointed as the chairman of the SBMA by President Corazon Aquino. By November 24, 1992, the U.S. Navy completed its withdrawal from the facility and its conversion for civilian and commercial use began. Volunteerism and the high civic spirit of the host community marked the pioneering efforts at conversion - thus the "Bagumbayan Movement" started as a volunteer group whose members served in the SBMA. Bagumbayan Party. The Bagumbayan Movement composed of more than 30,000 volunteers was officially  launched on April 27, 2009 at the historic Manila Hotel on the occasion of the 488th anniversary of the Battle of Mactan, the nation's first victory against the colonial invaders. Leon F. Herrera, president of the Bagumbayan–Volunteers for a New Philippines Movement, said Bagumbayan's grand launching was timed on the anniversary of the Battle of Mactan because Lapu-Lapu, the first Filipino hero, is one of the movement's inspirations. About 2,000 delegates flocked to the movement's grand launching and national convention that raised P17 Million through individual contributions and which was graced by Senator Richard  Gordon, the keynote speaker. The senator was joined by other guest speakers, to wit: world flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr., CNN Hero nominee Efren Peñaflorida, Journey lead vocalist Arnel Pineda, and Chikka.com founder Dennis Mendiola. Bagumbayan–VNP was officially accredited by the Commission on Elections as a political party on November 17, 2009. Ideology and political positions. Peace and security. Bagumbayan–VNP's position on peace and security is to uphold the authority of the Philippine Government in all provinces and regions of the country by establishing peace and order, bringing an end to the communist insurgency and Muslim secessionist  rebellion, dismantling all private armies, and keeping the peace in all communities through effective local law enforcement. To achieve this, Bagumbayan–VNP proposes to establish peace and security throughout the archipelago by implementing the following measures: Graft and Corruption. Bagumbayan–VNP's stand to curb graft and corruption in all levels of the government bureaucracy by making the President lead by example, installing full transparency and accountability in government operations, strengthening the independence of the Ombudsman, and overhauling government agencies long noted for graft. Bagumbayan–VNP proposes high priority to rooting out graft and corruption because it is a major  obstacle to national progress and modernization. The spread of graft from revenue agencies to virtually all government agencies is pervasive. Local governments have likewise gotten into the action in a big way. Bagumbayan–VNP proposes the following measures: Government modernization. Bagumbayan–VNP's platform to transform the bureaucracy and the public services into a productive, efficient and forward-looking organization by adopting best practices in government operations, improving government finances through the collection of proper taxes, providing clear roles, guidelines and procedures for each government department and employee, and establishing meritocracy as the basis for advancement in the public service . Recognizing that the role of government has become more central and vital than ever in the new global economy, and considering how weak and ineffective the Philippine government has been for many decades, Bagumbayan–VNP proposes top priority to the transformation of the government bureaucracy into an engine for national modernization and development. Bagumbayan–VNP's key to achieving this are the following measures: Economy. Bagumbayan–VNP's position in improving the Philippine economy to a new level of growth and global competitiveness by investing in the modernization of national infrastructure, releasing the energies of the private sector, simplifying and  streamlining the rules and procedures for doing business, raising domestic and foreign investments in the economy, and raising productivity in agriculture, industry and services. Government’s role in the economy is central and vital to national success. The economy cannot be delegated merely to the private sector. Government must lead the way. To meet this objective the following programs will be implemented: Human resources. Bagumbayan–VNP's stand on the improvement of the Human Resources is to provide for quality basic education to every Filipino child, modernize our education system from elementary to tertiary level, relieve once and for  all the classroom shortage, modernize our public health system and provide health insurance for every citizen. Education. Bagumbayan–VNP's position to improve the education are the following: Health care. Bagumbayan–VNP's position to improve the health care are the following: Party officials. Chairperson: Senator Richard Gordon President: Leon B. Herrera Secretary General: Rey Faizal P. Millan Treasurer: Rodolfo Reyes Candidate for the Philippine general election, 2013. Senatorial Slate (1)