ALMOST all Dabawenyos believe that the partylist system has been corrupted and abused, according to the latest University of Mindanao (UM)-Instiotute of Popular Opinion (IPO) online survey.
The survey was conducted through Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram from January 24 to February 16, 2025, targeting 1,200 Dabawenyos from the three districts of Davao City. The respondents were 18 years old and above and are registered voters of the city.
The survey was done at a 95 percent confidence level and three percent margin of error.
Based on the survey, about 91.7 percent of Dabawenyos believed the partylist system is corrupted and abused, with the same number believing that traditional politicians still dominate the partylist seats, turning it into a political tool, which is supposedly an intended advocacy platform.
Meanwhile, 72.9 percent of the respondents proposed to abolish the system to make way for more effective political reforms.
About 89.6 percent also said that most party-list representatives do not genuinely represent the marginalized sector, and 72.9 percent claimed that they do not truly represent the public interest.
Additionally, 64.6 percent said that the representatives of partylist failed to advance the welfare of marginalized sectors that they are representing.
Moreover, 85.4 percent said that the partylist groups remain in the control of the rich and powerful, while 79.2 percent believe that most of the groups do not have a clear political program.
The majority of the Dabawenyos, 70.8 percent, disagreed that the projects and programs that are being implemented by these partylists are visible and impactful, and 64.6 percent of respondents believed that the accomplishments of the representatives of partylist have little to no impact on the community.
When asked what changes they want in the partylist system, all of the respondents stressed that there is a need for greater transparency in the operations and funding of partylists. This includes a thorough review and updated qualifications, as well as genuine representation. About 95.8 percent of respondents pushed for voter education so that voters know the purpose of the system and their candidates.
In the survey, about 79.2 percent said they are familiar with the partylist system, and 77.1 percent said they voted for a partylist group in the last election. However, a small portion of the respondents know the benefits of the system.
Around 60.4 percent of respondents believed that partylists are for the marginalized sectors; 58.3 percent said that it allows ordinary citizens to serve the public, and 56.3 percent said that it encourages diversity in the government.
Additionally, about 93.8 percent of the respondents said that they want to limit the influence of large, well-funded groups in the system, and 91.7 percent called for a stricter implementation to prevent political dynasties in taking advantage of the system.
Meanwhile, 91.7 percent said that there should be additional support to the grassroots to strengthen their presence and influence.
Dabawenyo’s sentiments
For 24-year-old Jericho Portulazo, a resident of Bajada, the “partylist system is no longer useful.”
He said the system was created for representation, but based on his observation, they are no longer doing their job. He added that representation of the people should not be directed to the national government and not through the partylist system.
“Dili mabati-an sa katawhan ang ilang mga programa ug ginagamit nila for their own and personal advantage ang partylist (The people cannot hear about their programs, and they use the party-list for their own and personal advantage),” he said.
On the other hand, 24-year-old Myque Rollon, a resident of Barangay Indangan, said that she still supports the partylist system since they have different advocacies, especially for the sectors that are underrepresented. However, she noted how some partylists are “useless” since they do not have a solid foundation for their advocacy.
“Do thorough search about the partylist you're eyeing to vote, di tong basta ilado lang. Dapat may solid foundation for their advocacy and nakatabang gyud sa ilang sector (Do a thorough search about the party-list you're planning to vote for, not just those who are famous, but those with a solid foundation for their advocacy and who have truly helped their sector),” she said.
Partylist helpful for representation
Jean Lindo, third nominee of Gabriela Women’s Party, said in an interview with SunStar Davao that the proposition to remove the partylist system in the country is a ploy to actually remove it. She said that it is not the fault of the partylist system but that of those who take advantage of it.
“Dapat ipadayun lang gihapon ang partylist, ayusin ang Comelec… i-try gyud nila og check og unsa ba gyud ni or buhatan og mekanismo; nagakuha ba gyud ni siya ug datus sa mga sector, kahibalo ba gyud siya or recruit-recruit lang siya unya pagkatapos i-serve ang interest sa dynasties nagbuhat ana,” she said.
(The partylist should remain, but the Comelec should fix the issues, try to check what this is really about, and create a mechanism to see if it truly gathers data from the sectors, if they really know what they’re doing, or if it’s just about recruiting and later serving the interests of the dynasties that created it).
Lindo stressed that they should not abolish the partylist system, rather only remove those that are found to have corruption cases and those who only provide cash incentives. She said that Gabriela has been existent since the 1980s and has its own mechanism and checks and balances to ensure that no one would dominate the partylist for a long period of time.
Lindsey Espino, a longtime political science professor at the University of Mindanao (UM), explained to SunStar Davao that the partylist system is actually for the under-represented community sectors and groups such as labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous peoples (IP), women, youth, and other sectors that is defined by the law except for the religious sector. He said that anybody who has the capacity to garner about 20 percent of the votes can register as a partylist, which often leads to the abuse of power and corruption.
However, in a 2013 Supreme Court decision, it said that a partylist is a system of proportional representation that is open to various kinds of groups and parties and that it is not only exclusive to the marginalized sectors.
Espino emphasized the need for a legitimate representative for a sector that a partylist is representing. He said that there have been cases where political clans register for a partylist and there is misrepresentation that occurs when, say for example, a lawyer is nominated for the partylist to represent farmers, fisherfolks, and security guards, among others.
On the proposition to abolish the partylist system, Espino said that the system cannot be abolished since this is against the democratic principle of equal representation. He said that abolishing the system, especially as an excuse to open the amendments in the constitution, is not the answer. He stressed the need for strict, proper, and sincere representation of a particular sector. Well
“Ang daku nga problema kay gi-allow sa balaod ang mga political clans including their vested interest to use partylist as backdoor to Congress, para maka-partake sa congressional perks while lobbying for laws that favor them,” he said.
(The big problem is that the law allows political clans with vested interests to use the party-list as a backdoor to Congress, in order to partake in congressional perks while lobbying for laws that favor them).
Espino then encouraged the public to vote for a partylist that truly represents the marginalized sector and is seriously promoting their welfare. The partylist should have the platform and programs that uphold the national interest of the country. RGP