Party list system and political desperation

HAPPY WEEKEND  
Gina Dizon

A survey  done by the Montanosa Press Club  notes that  party list system is not  within the knowledge of  majority of respondents  interviewed  in six towns of  Mountain Province.

Survey results show   194  of  546  respondents  they  don’t know anything about the party list system while  185 said yes  and  38 said  maybe.  The rest of the 129  respondents did not  respond which may mean either they don’t know or  plainly ignored what the party list system is all about. 

The party list system has long been in existence in the Philippine  politics having started in 1998; and where 20% of the  House of  Representatives  composes  party list groups  being  voted and not the nominee. Parties who win at least  2% of the  national  votes are given one seat.

The party list system aims to stand for the  interest of the underrepresented in Philippine governance including  women, youth,  fisherfolks,  indigenous cultural communities among other sectors. While this is the case, party list groups  seemingly have not  saturated  giving information among the people  in the community level what the party list stands for.  Only a few  know what the party list is  all about  even as this has been in existence for the past 15 years.

In said survey, a total of 119 among  546 respondents  in six towns in Mountain Province  chose Katribu as their party list  while some  other party  list groups  Coop Natcco, ICare, Diwa, Anak IP, Bayan Muna, Act Teachers, Abono, AA Mover, Movecare,  Pakyaw, Prolife, PamilyaMuna, Pamilya  and  Ating Coop were identified by  respondents.

It may be said that Katribu in previous  educational  activities has done what they could  do to make people be aware of  Katribu as a party list group  yet much  still needs to be done to make people be aware of  what the party list is all about. Same case with  other party lists. It is surprising to note that other party lists are not that popular as Katribu in said  survey considering that other party list groups have  registered earlier.

In this current political scenario  where the rich and the  influential and  dynastic  families have long ruled politics in the country,  the party list as a potent  force to  establish people-based  governance in  communities still stands as a challenge, first and foremost among  party list groups and  communities who want to set change in Philippine politics. 

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With the May 13 elections  getting hot in Mountain Province as election day  comes just around

the corner, word is already  going round that  fake  money bills are being given to  the electorate in the name of one  congressional candidate for a rival to be destroyed. It  this is true,  such are the  desperate  acts of a desperate politician who wants to win. 

Word is also going round that  money is already being given to  the voting public to woo  votes for a top congressional candidate. Word is also going round that   500 peso  bills plus canned maling and  noodles are being  given to households  for a candidate. 

These stories  maybe true  considering  desperate acts of a politician to win amd how much a politician wants to stay in power . Where one  has gone to the extent of staying in  a political position  and do anything  rash and foul to destory an opponent and win over a position is    disgusting  considering the position  is vulnerable, not permanent and  bound to be taken by other persons. 

Desperation breeds rash acts which may harm other person’s human and  political rights. Such desperate acts  needs the public’s will  to cut such  tendencies for the good of the public.