BY ANDREA ZARAH DAYAO, ANNE EDNALYN DELA CRUZ and CIELO EUNICE FLORES
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — Because they are rarely covered by the media, Bulatlat decided to feature some of the most accomplished and progressive party-list groups.
Section 2 of Republic Act 7941 or Party-List System Act declares that “the state shall promote proportional representation in the election of representatives to the House of Representatives through a party-list system of registered national, regional and sectoral parties or organizations or coalitions thereof, which will enable Filipino citizens belonging to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors, organizations and parties, and who lack well-defined political constituencies but who could contribute to the formulation and enactment of appropriate legislation that will benefit the nation as a whole, to become members of the House of Representatives…”
The party-list (PL) system was first introduced during the May 1998 elections. A total of 123 party list groups registered for the elections and competed for 52 party-lists seats. However, only 14 seats were filled, which was equivalent to 6.3 percent of the total number of seats in the House of Representatives. This is a very small percentage considering that 20 percent of the seats in the Lower House are allotted to party-list groups.
Since 1998, there have been four party-lists elections. In 2001, 20 out of 52 congressional seats were filled, registering a fill-up rate of 8.77 percent in the 12th Congress. In 2004 and 2007, the seats allotted for party-list groups increased to 53 and 55, respectively. However, the results remained variably small. In 2004, 16 party-list groups secured 24 seats, equivalent to only 10.17 percent of the Lower House. In 2007, it even decreased; only 22 seats were filled, equivalent to only 9.09 percent.
This May 2010 elections, 187 party-list groups have registered and are competing for 54 party-lists seats. Twelve years have passed since the party-list system was first introduced yet the importance of party-list elections has remained unrecognized. The results of the April 2010 Pulse Asia survey revealed that 6 of 10 or 58 percent of registered voters are not aware of the party-list system.
What is worse is that even the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is having a difficult time organizing the party-list system. It has been accused of giving genuine party-list groups a hard time in getting an accreditation while allowing the entry of dubious, Malacañang-sponsored groups. Also, a study conducted by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility revealed that party-list groups are hardly covered in the media. Of the 187 partly-list groups vying for seats in the Lower House, only 23 covered by the three major news programs from the three major networks. Worse, nine out of the 16 in the 10 most covered party-list groups – the coverage of which amounted to a mere 11 seconds – are identified with Malacañang.
Of the 187 party-list running this elections, here are some of the party-list groups that have secured seats in previous elections:
Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP)
(Photo courtesy of www.gabrielawomensparty.net)
Founded in October 28, 2000, Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP) was formed by Gabriela, the biggest progressive organization of women in the country that is fighting for the interests, rights, and welfare of Filipino women, especially women from the basic masses, by working alongside patriotic and democratic classes, sectors, and groups in the struggle for freedom, social justice, equality and democracy. Both Gabriela and GWP were named after General Gabriela Silang who fought against the Spanish colonizers in the Ilocos provinces.
During the 2004 elections, the GWP landed a seat in the 13th Congress for its first nominee Liza Maza. In 2007, it gained two seats, which were occupied by Maza and Luz Ilagan. The two representatives of the GWP have authored bills such as the Reproductive Health Bill or the House bill (HB) 5043 to enhance quality health care for women. They also refiled House Bill 3461 or the Divorce Bill, which was earlier sponsored by Maza in the 13th Congress. Maza said, “In refiling the Divorce Bill, we hope to continue public discussions on the need to provide women, especially those in abusive and violent relationships, the option of divorce.”
Among the bills it passed to promote the rights of women and overseas Filipino workers (OFW), with support from Bayan Muna, is the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act or RA 9262. Republic Act no. 9262 is an act that seeks to protect women and children against battering. Other bills it authored include the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003 or RA 9189 to provide Filipinos abroad the opportunity to exercise their right to vote; Magna Carta for Women or RA 9710 to eliminate discrimination against women, to recognize their rights, and provide protection, and support for Filipino women; the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act in 2003 or RA 9208 to promote human dignity and eliminate human trafficking, violence and exploitation; and HB 4833, a bill that declares that the OWWA fund be used exclusively for OFWs.
Rep. Luz Ilagan said in an interview, “We also passed bills that sought to remove excessive fees exacted on OFWs, such as the bill removing the documentary stamp tax on all remittances of OFWS, and House resolutions calling for investigations of cases of OFWs who are stranded and in death row.”
“I have been to congressional hearings, outside and inside the country to know the situation of our OFWs,” she added.
The GWP also passed a bill that sought to protect the environment such as HB 646. HB 646 seeks to investigate the transport of endosulfan in the sunken M/V Princess of the Stars for the purpose of legislating policies regarding the transport of toxic chemicals and pesticides.
To support their advocacy for consumers’ rights and welfare, GWP passed bills such as HB 1126, “A bill to include LPG or Liquified Petroleum Gas, and Kerosene in the List of Basic Necessities.” They also filed HB 1133, “An act that amends the functions of the Price Coordinating Council by prescribing measures against price increases during emergency situations.” GWP also pushed for the removal of the 12 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) and the passing into law of HB 697 “An act that probes the inutility of the system of price and monitoring and control.
Maza is currently running for senator as guest candidate of the Nacionalista Party (NP). Ilagan is GWP’s first nominee, Emi de Jesus its second nominee, and Shiela Ferrer as its third nominee.
“Even before the Gabriela became a party-list group, it has always been a voice for women, children, and OFWs, because majority of migrants are women. And it was and will be the only voice for women in Congress,” Ilagan said.
Bayan Muna (People First) Party (BM)
(Photo courtesy of www.bayanmuna.net)
Bayan Muna firmly stands for social change that focuses on the basic problems of the country specifically, foreign domination, feudal bondage and a corrupt government.
Founded on September 25, 1999, Bayan Muna, translated as People First, seeks to serve the people through the legislative arena. The party commits to working for the rights and welfare of oppressed classes, sectors, and peoples including peasants, workers, rank and file employees, and indigenous peoples.
It is also committed to raise the issues and concerns of women and children, migrants, youth and students, small and medium entrepreneurs, among others. Edmund Bacatan, legislative staff of Rep. Neri Colmenares, said Bayan Muna is also working for a just and lasting peace and peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and CPP-NPA-NDFP (Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, National Democratic Front of the Philippines).
Among the bills authored, sponsored, and passed by Bayan Muna to promote human rights are the Anti-Torture Law or the Republic Act 9745, a law that criminalizes all kinds of torture to include physical, mental, psychological and pharmacological, the Marcos Compensation Bill, which seeks to compensate victims of human rights violations under the Marcos dictatorship, the Juvenile Justice System Act (9344), an act that recognizes the importance of children in society, aims to provide their right to education and enhance their moral and spiritual being, health and welfare, and Anti-Death Penalty Act.
It supported RA 9262 or Violence against Women and Children, the Genuine Agrarian Reform (GARB) or HB 3059, and the bill that provides for a P125 daily increase in wages of workers nationwide.
Aside from these, Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casino, and Neri Colmenares also authored and supported bills such as the Rent Control Act of 2009 or RA 9653, which regulates rent for residential units and provides mechanisms that will encourage the development of low-cost housing for low income brackets. This law was passed together with GWP. ?Bayan Muna also pushed for the Tax Relief for Minimum Wage Earners Act of 2008 (RA 9504).
For women and children, Bayan Muna also authored and supported bills such as the Anti-Domestic Violence Act to protect women who experience physical, mental abuse and sexual injury, and the Anti-Trafficking of Persons Act. ??Bayan Muna authored and supported the Health Worker’s Day Act or RA 10069, and the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Act of 2006, which defines the functions of Citizens Legal Assistance office.
Bayan Muna, Gabriela Women’s Party, and Anakpawis pooled their development funds to provide assistance to indigent patients in public hospitals, until the Arroyo government withheld their budget allocation.
Bayan Muna has 13 regional offices and 57 chapters all over the country.
“Most of our supporters come from Bicol, Samar, Leyte, Visayas islands, Southern Mindanao, Southern Tagalog, and other parts of Luzon. In Metro Manila, we have chapters inTondo, Paco, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, and Marikina,” Bacatan said.
When Bayan Muna first joined the 2001 elections, it topped the party-list elections and got three seats. It was also the top party-list group in 2004 and the second highest in 2007.
In this year’s election the party’s nominees are Teddy Casino, Neri Javier Colmenares, Hobel Laura, a lawyer from Bicol, Caloy Sarate from Davao, and a representative from Samar, while its president Satur Ocampo will run as guest candidate for senator of the Nacionalista Party, together with GWP’s Liza Maza.
Bacatan assures that, “win or lose the advocacies of Bayan Muna wil continue, that is to check, to stop, and to expose the unfair and anti-people policies of the government.”
Anakpawis Party-list
(Photo courtesy of www.anakpawis.net)
Founded in June 23, 2002, Anakpawis also called as the ‘Toiling Masses Partylist’ is a national political party that seeks to help the marginalized and oppressed sectors of Philippine society. It aims to work for: workers’ right to just and decent wages and humane working conditions; peasants’ right to the land they till; fisherfolks’ right to develop the marine system for livelihood; families’ right to a decent shelter; women’s rights against discrimination and to participate in the economic, social and cultural spheres; children’s right to education and protection against exploitation and; freedom from foreign domination.
In 2004, Anakpawis gained 538,396 votes (4.2320% of the total party-list votes), giving them two seats. Its representatives were Rafael Mariano, a peasant leader and, Crispin Beltran, former president of the Yellow Taxi Drivers’ Union and the Amalgamated Taxi Drivers Federation and former chair of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU). In 2007, Anakpawis initially won a seat with Mariano as representative, but after the Supreme Court junked the Panganiban formula to ensure that the 55 seats allotted for party-list groups be occupied, Joel Maglunsod, also a labor leader, filled the additional seat given to it.
True to its aim, Anakpawis, its representatives have focused on bills that provide immediate relief and that pursue the long-term interests of the toiling masses. Its representatives authored House Bill 345 and lobbied for Senate Bill 2497, which seeks to mandate a P125 ($2.55, based on an exchange rate of P49.015 per US dollar) daily wage increase for workers nationwide. This bill passed three readings during the 14th Congress before being blocked by Malacañang and relegated back to the committee that passed it. Some bills authored by Mariano were House Bill 01962 or an act providing for a P3000 across-the-board increase in the monthly wage and salary rates of employees and workers in the public sector, House Bill 50895, which seeks to merge labor and social laws to provide aid to workers, and House Bill 6808 or an “An act instituting an economic stimulus and rehabilitation program for small producers and entrepreneurs.”
Anakpawis also authored the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) also known as House Bill 3059, which the late Crispin Beltran filed during the 14th Congress. The GARB aims to fully distribute all agricultural lands to Filipino farmers in order to end feudal exploitation to lay the ground for national industrialization. Some bills passed relating to agricultural concerns were House Bill 07002 or “An act promoting the welfare of farm workers, farmers and small landowners in contract growing and for other purposes,” House Bill 01725 or “An act declaring January 22 as national farmer’s day,” “ A resolution directing the House Committee on Agrarian Reform to conduct an investigation on the sale of emancipation patents in Barangay Mamatid, Cabuyao, Laguna to dubious real estate companies resulting in the deprivation and displacement of farmers who were named beneficiaries and directing the said committee to come up with a report of its findings and recommendations to resolve the issue in favor of the farmers” or House Resolution 01057.
On education, the bills passed by Anakpawis were House Bill 05476 or “An act declaring October 5 of every year as “national teacher’s day”, House Bill 04734 or “An act providing for additional compensation for public school teachers,” House Bill 1138 or “An act that seeks to adopt Filipino as the medium of instruction,” House Bill 01136 or “an act that informs and educates the children on the lives, sacrifices and heroism of Filipino comfort women during the Japanese occupation.” Their inclusion in history books would give due recognition to the courageous struggles of these women the lives and heroism of Filipino comfort women during the Japanese occupation.
On taxes, Anakpawis supported House Bill 05682 or “An act removing the documentary stamp tax on all remittances from Filipinos abroad, repealing for the purpose section 181 of Republic Act no. 8424, otherwise known as the “Tax Reform Act of 1997″.
On human rights, it pushed for House Bill 05600 or “An act defining certain rights of human rights defenders and providing penalties for violations,” House Bill 04927 or “An act prohibiting and penalizing the deputization of any unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or any of its para-military groups for law enforcement duties in labor and agrarian disputes,” House Bill 04928 or “An act requiring military and police personnel to obtain a human rights clearance as a condition precedent for the validity of their promotion or appointment to a higher rank, position or office,” House Bill 03259 or “an act punishing military commanders or superiors for crimes or offenses committed by their subordinates under the principle of command responsibility,” House Bill 04369 or “an act providing for a system of recognizance as a mode for obtaining release from detention, appropriating funds, House Bill 05886 or “An act defining and penalizing the crime of enforced or involuntary disappearance and for other purposes, House Resolution 00988 or “ A resolution directing the committee on human rights to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the killing of Nelson Malit, coordinator of Anakpawis party-list in Pampanga and a staff member of Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL), allegedly by an element of the military,” House Resolution 00991 or “A resolution directing the committee on human rights to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the killing of Fernando Sarmiento, allegedly by an element of the military,” House Resolution 01001 or “A resolution directing the committee on human rights to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the abduction and continued detention of Felicidad Caparal, a staff member of Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) allegedly by members of the military.”
For migrant workers, Anakpawis supported House Bill 04833 or “An act declaring the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration fund (OWWA fund) as direct services for OFWS fund,” House Resolution 00962 or “A resolution directing the committees on overseas workers affairs, labor and employment and economic affairs to conduct an investigation into the case of distressed overseas Filipino workers repatriated from Taiwan due to the global economic crisis and recommend measures,” House Resolution 00970 or “A resolution urging the national government to implement emergency relief measures to assist all workers displaced due to the worsening global and domestic economic crisis.”
On population and gender equality, it pushed for House Bill 03973 or”An act increasing maternity leave benefits from sixty (60) days to one hundred twenty (120) days or four months, amending for the purpose, P.D. 442, as amended by R.A. 7322, House Bill 02221 or “An act granting maternity leave benefits to unmarried pregnant women who are in government service,” House Bill 01137 or “An act providing for a secured and separate prison cell for female prisoners in every district, city and municipal jail, amending for the purpose section 63 of Republic Act no. 6975,” House Bill 00017 or “An act on giving for a national policy on reproductive health, responsible parenthood and population development,” House Bill 06025 or “An act instituting the Girl Scouts of the Philippine Charter, House Bill 01128 or bill requiring women’s and girls’ human rights awareness programs in media, House Bill 01130 or “An act incorporating education on women, girls and gender rights, equality and welfare in all levels of public and private schools have also been passed for approval at the Congress.”
Now, Anakpawis along with other progressive party-list groups still vow to continue sponsoring and pushing for bills and resolutions that promote the rights and welfare of majority of the Filipino people.
Whether inside Congress or in the parliament of the streets, Anakpawis believes in the power of collective action in pushing for the interests, rights and welfare of the toiling masses as well as other sectors in Philippine society. “The 1986 revolution could have not been successful if there were no protest rallies against the Marcos administration,” according to Allan Garcia, member of Anakpawis Partylist. Through mobilizations, the Filipinos were able to impeach former President Estrada. Mass mobilizations have also been proven effective in fighting for the people’s rights and welfare such as in delaying oil price increases, blocking oppressive tax measures, among others.
Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Party list
(Photo courtesy of www.cibac.org)
Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Party-list is a multi-sectoral organization committed to fight graft and corruption. Formed in the year 1997, it was among the first party-list groups to be elected in 1998. CIBAC has been an active participant in peaceful mass actions and mobilizations.
It has been instrumental in the filing of cases against government employees and public officials, including former President Joseph Estrada in 2001. It believes the prevailing culture of corruption in the government paralyzes and holds down development and hinders the government from serving the people.
CIBAC’s platform revolves around the issues of Basic Education and Culture, Civil Service and Professional Regulation, Economic Affairs, Energy, Good Government and Public Accountability, Overseas Workers Affairs, Public Information, Public Works and Highways, Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, Tourism, Trade and Industry, Transportations, Way and Means, and Youth and Sports Development.
In its 3 terms in the House of Representatives, CIBAC had a hand in several bills enacted into laws, some of these are: Republic Act 9485, an act which aims to improve the efficiency in the delivery of government services to the public by reducing bureaucratic red tape and preventing graft and corruption, and Republic Act 9406, an act reorganizing and strengthening the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), amending for the purpose pertinent provisions of “Administrative Code of 1987″, granting special allowance to PAO officials and lawyers, and providing funds. Also, they continue to push for anti-corruption bills in congress; some of these are Freedom of Access to Information Bill, Access to Frontline Services Information Bill, and Anti-Red Tape Bill.
CIBAC nominees for this 2010 elections include Sherwin N. Tugna, Cinchona C. Gonzales, Armi Jane Borje, Emil Galang, and Carlos Muncada.
An Waray Party-list
(Photo courtesy of www.anwaray.com)
It’s not been too long since Senator Chiz Escudero endorsed An Waray Party-list for the 2010 elections. In his statement, he said that, “I am endorsing An Waray Party-List because I still believe in its programs for the youth. Its scholarship program is the biggest in Visayas. The organization believes in the youth sector’s great contribution to national development. “I also salute this organization in uplifting the state of the Warays through having efficient program suited to the needs of the Filipinos.”
Founded in 2001 by Manila-based former residents of Eastern Visayas, An Waray, meaning “those who do not have much in life,” is a political party that aims to uplift the lives of Warays (people coming from Eastern Visayas)
Guided by the party-list’s core values, An Waray’s main advocacies are to provide agricultural incomes for the marginalized sectors, primarily in the Visayas region, education, in order to eradicate the repeating cases of poverty, and active participation of the community in building social change.
In 2004 elections, Florencio Noel won a seat in the congress. In a span of three years of being elected in the congress, the party-list has been able to: provide medical assistance,to approximately 80 patients a day in the region, give scholarship grants among students who could afford to go to school, fertilizers and agricultural benefits, which are vital to agriculture, especially the coconut industry in the Visayas region – saying that all these projects were attributed from the party-lists advocacies.
Though, An Waray Partylist may literally means “nothing,” yet they see to it that they always have something for the masses, be it through the bills they pass or the services they do for the people.
Akbayan Party list
(Photo courtesy of www.isupportakbayan.org)
In 1998, Akbayan was among the 14 party-list groups that first secured a party-list seat in the House of Representatives. They used their seat for 3 terms to push for an honest and corruption-free government. Akbayan, led then by Representative Etta Rosales, exposed a case of wide-scale corruption involving the payola of P500,000 per Congressperson in order to pass the EPIRA Law and bared the massive defrauding of 23,000 public school teachers in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with the non-remittance of their GSIS contributions and other fees amounting to a staggering P1.2 Billion. More recently, Akbayan filed graft charges against President Arroyo’s husband Miguel Arroyo and the architects of the NBN-ZTE deal and voted for the impeachment of the current President for her involvement in anomalous deals as well as the “Hello, Garci” scandal.
Some of the bills it authored and supported are: House Bill 00958, an act amending section 24 of the national internal revenue code of 1997, reducing the income tax rates of individuals, House Bill 01053, an act penalizing the commission of acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishments, prescribing penalties thereof and for other purposes, House Bill 00956, an act prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and providing penalties thereof, and House Bill 01257, an act accelerating the completion of the land acquisition and distribution component of the comprehensive agrarian reform program (carp), by providing automatic appropriation thereof, and addressing major implementation problems of the program.
Also, they have been a member of committees on Appropriations, Ethics and Privileges, Health, Higher and Technical Education, Human Rights, Natural Resources, People Participation, Population and Family Relations, Rules, and Women and Gender Equality.
Akbayan nominees include Walden Bello, Kaka Bag-ao, Social Development worker Tomasito Villarin, Human Rights and Migrants advocate Ellen Sana, youth sector member Francis Issac, and Fisherman Ruperto Aleroza.
Kabataan Party-list
(Photo courtesy of kabataanpartylist.com)
Kabataan Party-list was formed in the year 2004, formerly known as Anak ng Bayan. It is the first and only youth party list group in Congress. It was founded by progressive youth organizations, National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), League of Filipino Students (LFS), Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP), Anakbayan, and Kabataang Artista para sa Tunay na Kalayaan (KARATULA).
Kabataan, on its first term in Congress, has pushed for several bills concerning the youth sector, some of these are House Bill 6799, Anti-No Permit, No Exam’ Policy, which prohibits schools from barring students who have not paid their tuition and other fees from taking their exams, House Bill 6921 BPO Workers’ Welfare and Protection Act of 2009 which aims to protect the rights, welfare, and health of millions of call-center agents and others working in the Business Process Outsourcing industry, House Bill 6870 SK Reform Act of 2009 which aims to reform and strengthen the national and local Sangguinang Kabataans (Youth Councils), House Bill 6770 Public Libraries Bill which aims to establish modern public libraries in all municipalities nationwide, House Bill 6771 Free Special Education Bill which aims to give free and appropriate education to all youth with disabilities and special needs, House Bill 6798 Styrofoam Ban Act of 2009 which aims to ban the use of any product made of/or using styrofoam in schools because of its harmful effect on the environment, and House Bill 7103 Philippine Games and Sports Act of 2009 which aims to enrich Philippine games in schools’ Physical Education curriculum.
Also, they have been a member of several committees in House of Representatives, Committee on Human Rights, Information and Communications Technology, Public Information, and Youth and Sports Development.
Kabataan Party list focuses its efforts in ending corruption and tyranny, providing education and employment, protection of the environment and national patrimony, and promoting empowerment and equality.
Kabataan nominees include first youth representative Raymond Palatino, anti-corruption advocate Mark Louie Aquino, and youngest human rights lawyer Katrina Castillo. (Bulatlat.com)
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