The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has accredited ORAGON (Organization of Regional Advocates for Good Governance Onward Nation-Building) as a party-list group to represent the marginalized sector and work for the development of poor regions, especially the Bicolandia.

ORAGON joins the 2010 elections for party-list representatives to find creative solutions to alleviate poverty in the countryside. Initial poverty alleviation will focus on the Bicol Region, being the second poorest region nationwide, after the Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

ORAGON is a non-profit multi-sectoral association of professionals, senior citizens, educators, public servants, market vendors, workers, farmers, fisherfolk, tricycle and padyak drivers and the youth who share a common vision for Bicolandia as a self-reliant and sustainable economic region.

Among its leaders are former congressional youth representatives Felizardo Colambo and Cesar Chavez, former Albay provincial board member Jose Saribong, environmental lawyer Ludivina Francisco, broadcaster Ambet Nabus, educator Rey Napay, social worker Fely Taburnal, business executive Jay Dimaiwat and green technology advocate Dennis dela Torre.

The group was organized to inculcate positive attitudes among the marginalized sectors in alleviating their economic conditions, knowing that in the Bicol Region, poverty incidence continues to rise, worsened by natural calamities.

Representing various organizations and private institutions, the founding members have gathered every three months since 2004 to share the outcomes of their initiatives concerning various community outreach programs.

Members are engaged in several concerns such as energy development, human resources, information technology, education, mining, waste management, medical services, transport services, workers rights, religious activities, combating terrorism, disaster preparedness, housing, environmental protection, and relief operations. They have sponsored a series of discussions on the best practices in these areas.

In 2007, they pursued the plan of involving the best minds in the Bicol Region, and since the best among Bicolanos are called Oragon, the term was adopted as the name of the group. On Jan. 31, 2008, a proposed constitution was discussed and approved by the founding members. Subsequently, it was registered in the Securities and Exchange Commission as a non-stock, non-profit corporation.