By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Angat Pilipinas, a national non-government organization, is planning to have its national launching in Bacolod City in October this year in time for the MassKara Festival, its founder said.
Marlon Marañon said “Angat” means Alliance for National Growth and Transformation whose objective is to create “a funding and business mechanism to help NGOs across the country have self-sustainable programs.”
“These will enable NGOs to generate funds and not rely so much from funding from political sources. Our advocacy is to give them a business concept like a cooperative only without the dividend,” Marañon, son of the late Negros Occidental governor Joseph Marañon, said.
He said they will launch a website “where every member can participate and do businesses they see on the site.”
“It is a virtual economic program,” he pointed out, adding they will set up chapters all over the country “where there will be city, provincial and regional directors.”
This is a business concept and will focus on advertising “but will provide income to the people,” he pointed out.
He said he expects officers “to be entrepreneurs.”
“This is our option and alternative especially for those into illegal activities such as illegal drugs and gambling,” Marañon pointed out.
We welcome institutional partners such as big private companies, he added.
Regarding membership fees, Marañon said “it will be free, but they have to sign up on forms and enter the code given to them on the website.”
“This is very dynamic and interactive,” Marañon said as he expressed optimism that Negrenses will “be proud of this.”/WDJ