BUTUAN CITY — The House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms has commenced nationwide public consultations on the proposed New Party-List System Act, aiming to address regulatory ambiguities and reinforce the system’s focus on marginalized and underrepresented sectors.
Committee Chairperson and Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong led the opening session at Caraga State University, highlighting the need to evaluate the system nearly thirty years after its inception.
“Nearly three decades after the first party-list elections, we must confront difficult but necessary questions. Who truly speaks for the people? Who deserves to occupy the seats intended to give them representation? And how do we ensure that the party-list system remains an instrument of democracy rather than merely another avenue to political power?” Adiong said.
The legislative initiative seeks to establish clearer representation standards, enhance transparency in congressional seat allocations, and tackle long-standing questions regarding organizational qualifications.
Lawmakers noted that existing gaps in the legal framework have occasionally created uncertainties over whether intended beneficiaries truly hold the seats.
“These uncertainties cannot remain unresolved. For every ambiguity in the law, there is a risk that the very people the system was designed to empower will be left without a genuine voice,” Adiong added.
Under the leadership of House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, the committee’s outreach approach aims to secure direct feedback from regional stakeholders, community members, and sectoral representatives. Several legislators participated in the Butuan City consultation, including Tingog Party-list Representative Jude Acidre, who chairs the technical working group on the measure; Abamin Party-list Representative Maximo Rodriguez Jr.; ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio; 4Ps Party-list Representative JC Abalos; Agusan del Norte Lone District Representative Dale Corvera; and Butuan City Lone District Representative Jose “Joboy” Aquino II.
Adiong emphasized that congressional seats must reflect genuine public trust rather than political privilege.
“A seat in Congress must never be reduced to a political privilege. It is a public trust, carrying the responsibility to speak for communities, defend their interests, and ensure that their aspirations are reflected in the laws of our nation,” he stated.
The committee intends to review inputs gathered from regional consultations to refine the draft legislation before moving it forward in the legislative pipeline.