By Chelsea David
In preparation for Halalan 2022, Dr. Rommel Mazo, a political science professor from the Social Sciences Department of the University, defined the role of party lists in the Philippines in representing different sectors of marginalized, underrepresented, and without well-defined political constituencies.
During the online event discussion titled, “uSAPan: Party-List System of the Philippines: A Youngian Critique” on Wednesday, Oct. 13, Mazo emphasized that the Party-Lists are vital in their positions to uphold the rights of each sector they represent to resist oppression.
“’Yung bingi na nagsasalita sa Kongreso, ayun talaga member ng (Persons with Disability). Ito ‘yung mga sektor ng lipunan na hindi natin napapakinggan. Mayroon silang pangangailangan at interes… mayroon silang perspective [kumbaga],” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Mazo explained in Ang Bagong Bayani law that people who run for the marginalized sector should also be a member of that sector to be well-represented.
“Pero an[g] sabi [sa batas] ng Atong Paglaum… puwede [rin] kahit hindi ka member ng marginalized sector of the society, basta mayroong track record of advocacy for their respective sector,” he exempted.
One of the attendees asked whether the Party-List System should be demolished due to its flaws, but the speaker said that he does not agree because of the representation needed for the marginalized, underrepresented, and without well-defined political constituencies.
“May mga sektor tayo sa lipunan na kinakailangan[g] marinig ang kanilang mga kuwento, ang kanilang mga pangangailangan, mga kailangan perspective. Matagal na hindi napapakinggan, matagal na isasantabi ang kanilang mga pangangailangan… [para sa akin], hindi kailangan buwagin, kung ‘di i-reporma,” Mazo added.
The Party-List is under the House of Representatives, comprising 20% of its members while the other 80% is occupied by the District Representatives. They can be elected to a maximum of three consecutive terms and serve only three years per term in the office.
