OpinionsEcon 101What is the Party-list system?

What is the Party-list system?

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A Party-list is any system of proportional representation that gives the voters a chance to choose lawmakers in Congress from among sectoral groups rather than from among particular candidates.

Votes are awarded to the particular parties in proportion to the votes they actually receive.

The party-list system is based on Republic Act 7941 that was signed into law on March 3, 1995. In keeping with the call for “new politics”, this system reflects the move towards program-based politics focused on competent parties with comprehensive programs, rather than on personalities and trapos (traditional politicians).

The Filipino electorate was first introduced to the Party-list system during the May 1998 elections where 123 Party List organizations registered. That time, only 13 organizations (with a total of 14 representatives), including Akbayan! and Sanlakas, received two percent of the total votes.

Of the 80 percent total voter turnout, only 26 percent cast their Party List vote. I believe this was expected as the Commission on Elections had failed to conduct a comprehensive education campaign on the Party List system.

In the ideal world, a Party-list system can help create a healthy democracy, providing a citizens’ voice in Congress and in local government.

The Philippine Party-list system aims to increase the representation, particularly of the “marginalized and underrepresented” sectors, and enhance transparency and accountability, leading to more efficient government.

With the Party-list system, political parties are expected to be strengthened, encouraging program- and platform-based politics; instead of dealing with enervated affiliations among opportunists, encouraging moneyed and patronage politics that have bred corruption and inefficiency in governance, hindering the country’s genuine development.

But the reality in 2019 is that the first five winning Party-lists are: ACT-CIS (Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement & Support) with three seats led primarily by the Tulfo brothers Erwin and Raffy; Bayan Muna (espousing nationalism and anti-imperialism) with three seats led by Cong. Carlos Isagani Zarate; Ako Bicol (advocating for Bicolano regionalism) with two seats then led by the vocal Cong. Rodel Batocabe who was shot dead in December 2018; CiBaC (Citizens’ Battle against Corruption) with two seats led by evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva of the Jesus is Lord church; and Ang Probinsyano party-list (advocating province-based initiatives) backed by Albay-based nominees who got two seats.

Are these party-list groups program-based? Do they represent “new politics”? Or is this just a ploy for political families, recycled names, and political dynasties to get back from behind, and perpetuate themselves in Congress? Do we really understand what the party-list system is all about?

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Author’s email: [email protected]

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