DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Leaders of political parties Nacionalista Party (NP) and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) signed an agreement to work together under the Rodrigo Duterte presidency.

NP president and former Senate president Manny Villar and PDP-Laban president Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III signed the “coalition for change agreement” on Monday, May 16, in the presence of Duterte.

The signing and photo opportunity took place at the end of Duterte’s press conference at the Matina Enclaves clubhouse in Davao City.

Villar arrived with his wife Senator Cynthia Villar and their son Mark Villar. NP is the country’s oldest political party.

PDP-Laban, meanwhile, is Duterte’s party. He was proclaimed party chairman last February 9.

Villar said the signing of the deal signifies a willingness for both parties to cooperate with one another in bringing out reforms under the Duterte administration.

“Para magkasama, magtulungan, magkasama ang Nacionalista at PDP-Laban (So we are together, so we help each other). We are one on policies. We are supporting the administration of President Duterte,” Villar told reporters after the signing.

Duterte may need the support of both houses of Congress to begin his desired reforms. 

Key campaign promises that may need legislative backing include the raising of salaries of police and military, the phaseout of contractualization, and the shift to a federal form of government. – Rappler.com