Criteria for child-friendly 2010 political candidates unveiled

MANILA, Philippines – A newly formed movement unveiled yesterday its 10-point criteria in choosing “child-friendly” political candidates for the May 2010 elections.

The Akap Bata Sectoral Organization, composed of Roman Catholic and Protestant Church leaders and various child welfare groups, aims to guide Filipino voters in choosing the country’s new leaders based on the following qualities:

1. Has integrity and good personality;

2. Has no record or involvement in graft, corruption and criminal cases, including his/her family members;

3. Has the experience and capacity to lead;

4. Has advocacies concerning the promotion of children and people’s rights;

 5. Has services and programs for the welfare of poor and deprived children;

6. Has clear reliable platforms defending the marginalized and misrepresented sector of children and people;

7. Has just position on various critical political, economic, social and moral issues on children;

 8. Has to be unifying with other sectors of society in advancing the rights of the poor and the people;

9. Has to be faithful and God-fearing, and

10. Has to have ethical morality that will set a good example for children.

“Being child-friendly must be demonstrated not only through lip-service and mere publicity stunts but also be reflective of the core values, platforms and personal lives of our politicians,” Akap Bata Sectoral Organization national secretary-general Arlene Brosas said during the group’s launch at the Philippine Christian University in Manila.

Edwin Quinsayas, Akap Bata Philippines Inc. project officer, said children are the most vulnerable to the blows of the global economic crisis.

Asked if the group has plans of running for a seat in Congress next year, Quinsayas said that as of now they are more focused on expanding the group. – Helen Flores, Philippine Star