Until it is corrected, the twisted implementation of the party-list system will remain a laughingstock because it benefits the wealthy instead of the poor and marginalized Filipinos.
Senator Robin Padilla stressed this at the hearing of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation, where he said even wealthy contractors now have their own party-lists.
“Karamihan sa ating mga party list ay kilalang mga contractors… Ito ay isang bagay na pagyurak sa Republic Act 7941.”
“Karamihan sa ating mga party list ay kilalang mga contractors… Ito ay isang bagay na pagyurak sa Republic Act 7941. Siguro magsama-sama na lang ang contractor gumawa sila ng isang party-list, hindi ang bawa’t isa meron silang party-list,” Padilla said.
“Kapag hindi natin hinarap, magiging katawa-tawa tayo sa 80% ng Pilipino sa ating bayan.”
“Itong ganitong sitwasyon, kapag hindi natin hinarap, magiging katawa-tawa tayo sa 80% ng Pilipino sa ating bayan sapagka’t itong RA 7941 na ito ang nire-represent po nito ay 80% ng Pilipino na hirap na hirap sa kanilang buhay. Hindi ko po maintindihan kung bakit ang 20% pa ng ating mga kababayan na talagang mayayaman naman ay kailangan upang makinabang dito sa party-list system,” the legislator added.
The lawmaker said he is sad that the goals of RA 7941 are not being met such that laborers, fishermen, farmers, women, urban poor, youths, cultural minorities, overseas Filipino workers, veterans, professionals, persons with disabilities, and the elderly remain marginalized.
The senator lamented that the marginalized still do not have a voice because the party-list system is twisted.
“Nakalulungkot po sapagka’t parang hindi ko nakikita ito. Ang atin pong mangingisda, manggagawa at magsasaka, nandoon pa rin sa kalagayan na hindi pa rin sila napapakinggan na dapat napapakinggan na sapagka’t merong RA 7941,” he concluded.
