Manila mayor to push for law regionalizing party-list representation

PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” M. Domagoso said on the weekend that the party-list system should be regionalized to limit the dominance of rich representatives from Metro Manila. 

“It has to be regionalized to keep limiting (representatives) from Metro Manila, what they call imperial Manila. To keep limiting the rich from Metro Manila from being elected and making up the party-list system,” he said in Filipino in a live-streamed presidential debate on Sunday organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). 

“Are they really representing the marginalized? Are they really representing the intent of the law when it was crafted? That’s how I see it. We have to make a law, through the help, we have many lawmakers or through people’s initiative.”   

He said measures must also be established to empower Comelec to better sift through party-list applicants, noting that many of those vying for congressional seats are just extensions of political dynasties or representing privileged sectors.   

Under the 1987 Constitution, the party-list system was established to represent marginalized sectors including labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous peoples (IP), cultural, women and youth in the House of Representatives. 

Mr. Domagoso said making the party-list voted by region will help ensure proper representation of sectors, especially those in remote provinces. 

He said senators should also be voted for per region. 

“I want to see senators who are Moro, Igorot, Aetas or IPs across the country,” he said. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan