Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Saturday, January 24, voiced confidence that proposed measures to reform the country’s party-list system stand a strong chance of being passed in Congress.
In a radio interview, Sotto noted that the initiative is among the four legislative priorities identified by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for senators and congressmen.
“Malaki ang pag-asa. Una, gusto ng Pangulo. Pangalawa, yung mga district representatives bigla silang natatauhan ngayon na bakit tinatabunan sila nitong mga party-list?” Sotto said.
He pointed out that in recent years, party-list lawmakers have held key positions in the House of Representatives, including chairmanship of the powerful Appropriations Committee.
“Itong nakaraang tatlong taon ni President Marcos bakit puro party-list ang chairman ng House Appropriations Committee? Di ba dapat yung legitimate na district-elected congressman?” he added.
Sotto has filed Senate Bill No. 192, which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 7941, or the Party-List System Act, to restore its original intent under the 1987 Constitution.
The measure introduces new grounds for the cancellation of registration of party-list groups, including failure to represent marginalized sectors, nominees not belonging to these sectors, participation in acts detrimental to government interests, ceasing to be marginalized, and material misrepresentation of nominees.
He stressed that the current system has strayed from its constitutional purpose, creating more inequality instead of addressing it.
“Kaya ang maganda ayusin na itong party-list system na ito,” Sotto said.
The proposed reforms aim to ensure that the party-list system genuinely serves the marginalized and underrepresented, as envisioned by the framers of the Constitution.