it became the opposition party under the Marcos Sr. dictatorship, wherein it became more liberal. Being a founding member of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats and a full member of Liberal International, the Liberal Party advocates the values of "freedom, justice and solidarity (bayanihan)," as described in the party's values charter. Although this may be deemed theoretically true since the party's founding in 1946, it became more tangible through the party's position of continuing dissent during the Marcos dictatorship. Since 2017, the party has opened party membership to the general public and to key sectors of society, aiming to harness a large volunteering base. According to the party, this aims to ostensibly build on "the promise of becoming a true people’s party". Current political positions The party has declared policies geared toward inclusiveness and people empowerment. It also advocates and supports secure jobs, food, shelter, universal health care, public education access, and other social services, and is against extrajudicial killings, any challenge to the rule of law, and curtailments of human rights strictures. The party also aims to form an open government with participatory democracy, positions that have been supported by the party's recent leaders. Economic policy Improve social safety nets. Impose 1% wealth tax on individuals with net value assets exceeding ₱1 billion. Create tax exemptions for selected products. Maximize the budget windfall of local governments for antipoverty projects. Increase minimum wages. Declare and address an "education crisis", increase the education budget to 6% of GDP, streamline teachers' function, and establish special education (SPED) centers in all public schools. Develop an inter-sectoral approach and convergence of roles for the attainment of a functioning universal health care, provide due fixed allowances and statutory benefits to barangay health workers, and fix the corruption in PhilHealth. Prioritize infrastructure for spurring rural development, transportation, water resource management, and climate resilience, funded through public-private partnerships rather than loans. Upgrade science and technology research and development funding and promote data-driven agriculture. Invest in subsidies to promote renewable energy and implement better waste disposal to mitigate sea pollution. Prioritize a job guarantee program and expand coverage of the SSS and Pag-Ibig. Promote financial literacy. Offer voucher programs for access to private colleges and universities. Enact a law calling for equal participation of women in the economy and in decision-making positions, both in public and private organizations. Addressing systemic corruption in government. Cleaner air and