Less than 100 groups may join party-list polls

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking at less than 100 party-list organizations participating in the 2013 midterm polls, Chairman Sixto Brillantes said yesterday.

“There may be less than 100 party-list groups next year. This is lower than the 184 groups that ran in 2010. We are still reviewing many party-list groups,” Brillantes said in an interview.

According to the poll chief, the Comelec is still on track in its target of coming up with the complete list of qualified party-list groups by Nov. 30.

“If that will be delayed, I think the latest will be Dec. 2. We want to finish this soon so that by January 2013, we can start printing the ballots,” he added.

The Comelec has been scrutinizing a total of 165 new applicants for accreditation and 124 accredited organizations to make sure that only genuine party-list groups could join the 2013 race.

Under Republic Act 7941 or the Party-list System Act, party-list organizations shall represent in Congress the marginalized and under-represented sectors of society.

However, over the years, the party-list system had become a backdoor entry to Congress by some affluent and prominent individuals, politicians, and government, military and police officials who could not win in regular polls.

This prompted the Comelec to be strict on implementing requirements, resulting in the disqualification of dubious groups and those with nominees who are not marginalized.

The poll body is hoping that by eliminating unqualified groups, the marginalized and under-represented sectors would not only be protected but the government would also be able to save money from ballot paper.

In the 2010 polls, the ballots were 26 inches in length primarily because of the 184 party-list groups printed on the documents.

So far, the Comelec had blocked the bids of 92 groups while declaring seven others qualified to join the party-list race.

These are Pilipino with Disabilities, Ang NARS Inc., Piston Land Transport Coalition Inc. (PISTON); Aagapay sa Matatanda Inc. (AMA); Ating Agapay Sentrong Samahan ng mga Obrero Inc. (AASENSO), Akbayan, and Bayan Muna.