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Wednesday, February 12, 2025

The Truth Behind the Party-List System: Who Are They Really Representing?


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The Philippine Party-List System was designed to give marginalized and underrepresented sectors a voice in Congress. However, according to election watchdog Kontra Daya, more than 50% of the party-list groups running in #Eleksyon2025 do not actually represent marginalized sectors.


A closer look at the 156 accredited party-list groups reveals an alarming truth:

✅ 86 groups (55.13%) have no clear connection to any marginalized community.

✅ 40 are linked to political dynasties.

✅ 25 are tied to big businesses.

✅ 18 have ties to the military or police.

✅ 7 have histories of corruption.

✅ 11 have questionable advocacies.

✅ 9 provided insufficient information in their documents submitted to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).


A System Hijacked by the Powerful

What was meant to be an instrument for inclusive governance has become a tool for political elites, business tycoons, and other powerful groups to secure seats in Congress. This issue isn't new—in the 2022 elections, Kontra Daya reported that 70% of party-list groups were controlled by political clans or businesses.


Under Republic Act No. 7941 (the Party-List System Act), these groups are supposed to represent sectors such as:

✅ Workers

✅ Farmers

✅ Fisherfolk

✅ Urban poor

✅ Indigenous communities

✅ Women

✅ Youth

✅ Cooperatives


Yet, many of the current party-list groups have no real connection to these communities.


Does Comelec Conduct Background Checks?

In theory, Comelec requires party-list groups to submit:

📌 Their constitution and by-laws

📌 Platform or government programs

📌 List of officials

📌 Other necessary documents


But is Comelec really doing its job in verifying these groups? The fact that a "WiFi Party-list" exists raises eyebrows—since when did WiFi become a marginalized sector?


Former Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon previously pushed for stricter accreditation rules to ensure that only legitimate representatives of marginalized sectors make it to the ballot. Yet, election after election, questionable groups continue to be accredited.


Why Should Voters Care?

Every election, party-list groups win 20% of the seats in the House of Representatives. That means these groups play a crucial role in shaping the country's laws and policies. If these seats are taken over by traditional politicians and big businesses, it defeats the purpose of the party-list system and denies real marginalized communities the representation they deserve.


What Can We Do?

With #Eleksyon2025 fast approaching, it is the responsibility of voters to:

✅ Research the background of party-list groups before voting.

✅ Support genuine party-list groups that truly represent marginalized communities.

✅ Call on Comelec to enforce stricter screening of party-list candidates.


The party-list system was meant to be a tool for social justice and equal representation. It’s time to take it back from those who are exploiting it for their own interests.

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