Party-List Elections: - ALAGAD Party-List

2013
Party-List Elections:
Can the Basic Sectors Win?

Our Constitution recognizes the need of the
marginalized basic sectors – workers, farmers,
fisherfolk, urban poor, indigenous people,
women, and youth – to be given a voice in the
crafting of laws that affect their lives.
Section 5. (2) The party-list representatives shall constitute 20% of the total number of
representatives including those under the party list. For three consecutive terms after
the ratification of this Constitution, one-half of the seats allocated to party-list
representatives shall be filled, as provided by law, by selection or election from the
labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth, and such
other sectors as may be provided by law, except the religious sector. -- 1987 Constitution

But, sadly, over the years,
traditional politicians have
manipulated and dominated
the partylist system for
themselves, their family
members and relatives, and
their business and political
partners – robbing the basic
sectors, the poor and the
marginalized, of their only
chance to be heard in
Congress.

How did this happen?
KALINGA CIBAC BUHAY
1. Instead of limiting the
LPGMA 1 CARE YACAP
partylist system to sectoral
UNA ANG AGP PAMILYA
organizations, RA 7941
allowed national and regional
ABONO ABS AGBIAG
parties to join.
2. The Comelec qualified, APEC AGAP AA KASOSYO
accredited and registered
parties or organizations or AVE AAMBIS-OWA DIWA
coalitions without regard to
1-UTAK PBA ALE
their real sectoral nature.
Known politicians, families
AGHAM AKO BICOL
and traditional parties were
emboldened – with husbandand-wife,
mother-and-son,
AN WARAY AANGAT TAYO
ABANTE MINDANAO
government officials, and
wealthy businessmen
ANG KASANGGA ANAD
participating.
BAGONG HENERASYON KAKUSA

3. The Administration (and the
opposition, too) funded sectoral
parties with the end view of
gaining more allies in Congress.
4. The bases of real basic sector
groups are easily swayed by
glitzy propaganda, false
promises, vote-buying, or even
threat and intimidation.
5. Traditional politicians say: “There
is no labor, farmer, or urban poor
vote. What counts is money, and
lots of it. Panalo lalo ang huling
magpakain at magpainom.”
6. The huge number of candidates
only aggravate the confusion –
further dimming the chances of
basic sector groups.

Among the groups vying for a partylist seat in
Congress, ALAGAD has an established track record
of advancing the urban poor sector’s agenda.
Help advance the interest
of the urban poor. Support
ALAGAD Party-List.