By Rodolfo Dacleson II
(May 19, 2025) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday reiterated its call to amend the party-list law to only allow legitimate groups to represent the marginalized sectors and run for a seat in the House of Representatives.
Comelec chairman George Garcia stressed that pushing for the amendment of Republic Act (RA) No. 7491 or the Party-list System Act is an “ongoing call” for the commission.
“I believe even party-list organizations will always aspire to a new law to reflect the true sentiments of marginalized and underrepresented sectors,” said Garcia in a media briefing, as quoted by the Philippine News Agency.
RA 7491 aimed at promoting proportional representation in the lower chamber through the election of party-list representatives from underrepresented sectors, including farmers, workers, indigenous peoples, and urban poor.
“Some say that the party-list is no longer marginalized and underrepresented. In the end, that is what the law should be,” added Garcia.
A ruling by the Supreme Court in 2013, however, stated that: “National parties or organizations and regional parties or organizations do not need to organize along sectoral lines and do not need to represent any “marginalized and underrepresented” sector.”
Over 55% of the 156 party-list groups that ran in the 2025 midterm elections for a position in the House of Representatives did not represent a marginalized sector, according to election watchdog Kontra Daya.
It also noted that some were linked to political dynasties and businesses.
Non-government research and advocacy organization Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) asserted that the continued “hijacking” of the country’s party-list system will only diminish the democratic space for genuine representation.
“Instead of serving as a platform for genuine representation, the party-list system has become a backdoor for traditional politicians and economic elites to further consolidate power,” said CenPEG in a statement last February.
In the 19th Congress, several proposals were filed in both chambers to amend RA 7941 but remained pending.
(JREC)
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