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Thursday, 15 August 2019
Daily Tribune

Ticket to ride
In the last elections, Kontra Daya convenor doubt support the Duterte administration's anti- 'millionaires - even billionaires - claimir
Danilo Arao observed that base{ on a partial count, crime and terrorism efforts. . represent the poorest sectors of the soc
'34 out of 59 partylist seats would go to nominees The-National Youth Commission chaired by the are now in Congress pushing for issues
pho have links to incumbent government officials, controversial Ronald Cardema seems less clear probably know about but never experie
members of political dynasties or representatives about its purpose judging from the fact that'it is in their lives.
of special business interests.' headed by someone who can no longer be referred That Cardema had the chutzpah to e
That was one of the issues to as belonging to the "youth.' himself tflead a youth-oriented cause is an,
(( raised against partylists, by In fact, this-coveragen issue recently got Senate questionable factor.
with 61 Minority Leader Franklin Drilon reaeting with uThere
those who believed the sectoral are a lot of issues involving the par
seats in the representation system had dismay over what he called .exploitationn of the system which need to be threshed out and rej
flouse, partylist become a cheap ticket to partylist system, calling for ureforms in the system must be put in place, so that we can truly
leaders could Congress, whether for the first of sectoral representation in Congless," as reported voices to the poor and marginalized,n Drilon
makc Tnore of time or to retain a hold on in this paper. authored Senate Bill 12, which useeks to strenl
a difference power and influence. Drilon went further to point out that billionaires, the political party system in the countryn fu
than being the Indeed, the group backed millionaires and influential political clans 'claim said in the report - a "legacy' he wishes the
numhers to fitl by media personality Erwin to represent the poor' during elections, e;plaining Congress would make.
a bilJ's passa,ge, Tulfo,,qame away with an that this is not the intent of the Constitution when Having been in politics as long as he has, I
overwhelming percentage .of. it introduced the sectoral representation process," is probably thinking itls about time our ler
yotss.
-.'-ACi:cis,
the . ]ii thdreport adds.
which rtrnii'for Anticrfire ana Who are these upowerful political
Terrorism through Community Involvement and clans' the senator is referring
Support, garnered about 2.5 million votes or 9.61 to, who have exploited the
percent of total votes cast. partylist system?
Along with Leftleaning Bayan Muna, it was the It is something to
only partylist which got three seats think about ttrat
in the House of Representatives.
While the second-place
group is well-known for its
active efforts to push for its
causes, only a few partylists
seem only to be good
for numbers a.k.a, warm
bodies. \f
Numbers count for
quite a lot in our legislative .

departments, with support for

bills needed for these to pass. i

The administration-backed {
ACT-CIS represented by I
!l

Jocelyn Tulfo, wife !t

of broadcaster
Raffy Tulfo,
will no :
 really did make changes on ouf political system
as they have always promised.
With 61 seats in
$
the House, partylist
leaders could make It is something
more of a difference to think about that
than being the 'millionaires-eaen
numbers to fill a
biUi,onaires claiming -
bill'spassage. We to repi'esent the poorest
are not saying onty sectois of the society'are
the marginalized or now in Congress pushing
the poor deserve for issu;es they,., neaer
,
representation experienced in their lives,
but those who do
represent them shoirld do so in the most effective
ways.
The partylist system could be instrumental in
bringng changes to the lii;bS of 'more Fitipinos,l
addressing specific concerns
or focusing attention on
issues that usually take the
backseat. i

But before it could playthis i

significant role, the leaders

and constituencies of the
different parties representing
these sectors and their causes
should first get real by owning
up to their true selves and
admitting to whether they
are the real representatives
of-ra marginalized sector, or
iftthey are merely in need
of a platform where they
F' can pursue certain interests

*t that, in the long run, will take

prccedenee over the concerns
of the sector they claim to
G represent.

q In the, long run, the

partylist system can only be
viewed as useful and necessary
if it had been able to bring
[r: to focus the various issues
and concerns of the needy
and underprivileged sectorl
of society, and contribute tol
finding the solutions to their
challenges. That some parties
should end up addressing thei
needs and wants of sectorS]
that are not necessarily
marginalized and poorest of
the poor should not distract
from the real intent of the
Constitution; which is to provide
,
representation for those who
may not have the resources to
elect a representative to the
larmaking bodies.
And mayPe the real youth
can push for it throug[ Cardema's
National Yorfth Commission.