Presidential Peace Adviser Sonny Razon Jr. declared that he will be part of the advocacy of a new citizens’ movement for alternative and meaningful and change in Manila.

Razon made this commitment to the 6,000-strong We are the Reason Movement (WARM) during its launch on Monday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium at Malate, Manila. The membership of the We Are the Reason Movement comes from a cross section Manila’s population – urban poor, ordinary employees, youth and students, barangay leaders, community leaders and organizers and entrepreneurs – who have banded together to push for change in that would have a positive impact on the lives of the city’s residents.

“I am one with you in mobilizing our fellow Manileños, especially the poor and underprivileged, to assert their right to be involved in determining the development path that our city would take and be actively involved in the formulation and implementation of programs that would hasten progress,” said Razon, who grew up on Oroquieta St. in Sta. Cruz, Manila and now lives in the city’s Malate district.

He added that it has to be emphasized to the citizens of Manila that they hold their lives, their future and the future of their city in their collective hands and it is not only their right but also their obligation to be involved. “This is the essence of consultative and participative democracy and people empowerment.”

The members of WARM are expected to form the nucleus of a city-wide movement for change and act as leaders in their respective communities to also push for their advocacy.

Specifically, WARM is pushing for what it calls the “Right to the City,” a concept affirming that every citizen is entitled to basic rights. It also advances what it terms as “social protection,” which in essence demands that every citizen has the right to expect adequate social services such as livelihood, health and education, as well as have a say in determining the development goals for the city and be involved in implementing programs that have to be undertaken by the local government in pursuit of such goals.
 
Salanie Bacarro, a community and political organizer in Manila and acting head of WARM, was visibly moved by Razon’s declaration of support for the movement’s cause, saying that he is very happy that a leader of national prominence who is also a fellow Manileño has joined their ranks.

“Secretary Razon’s involvement in our advocacy is certainly a big boost for us. In our dialogues with him, we saw how deeply he cares for the city and its people. We will definitely benefit from his insights on development issues as well as his management skills,” said Bacarro, who also pointed out that the country’s police force performed well during the able leadership of Razon when he was Chief PNP.

Bacarro said that the core leaders of the movement have been conducting what he calls community consultations and dialogues, similar to “town hall” meetings that are common in most Western democracies, particularly in the United States. Organizing efforts started in February of this year with a core of several dozen advocates in each district, which have managed to reach out to some 6,000 as of this month.