15 party-list groups back Mar’s presidential bid

MANILA, Philippines – At least 15 party-list groups have expressed their support for the presidential bid of administration standard bearer Mar Roxas, a lawmaker said yesterday.

Youth Against Corruption and Poverty Rep. Carol Jayne Lopez said these party-list groups are Aambis-Owa, Abante Mindanao, ABS, Agap, Anak Mindanao, Angkla, Append, A-Teacher, 1-Care, Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption, Coop-Natcco, LPG Marketers’ Association and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.

“Being a party-list representative myself, I understand the sentiments and the needs of the party-list groups and I believe those requirements have been discussed and addressed and so we are now all looking forward to May 2016 with Mar Roxas,” Lopez said.

She said party-list groups are among the most important forces that enable marginalized Filipinos and the underrepresented in our society to have a voice in government.

“I personally have looked up to the roles the party-list representatives have been playing all these years with the objective to make life better for those who feel they need more contribution from the national government,” Lopez said. 

“The Roxas team is excited to be working closely with them… We all know that party-list groups are very hardworking and the concerns and issues they, we, bring to the table are the same concerns and issues of the majority of the Filipinos, particularly the poor,” she said.