Party-list bets start campaigning for 2019 polls

Party-list candidates began campaigning early on Tuesday morning, the start of the 90-day campaign period for the 2019 midterm elections.

Incumbent Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate joined the group's campaign sortie in Barangay Tunasan in Muntinlupa City.

Rep. Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna party-list joins campaign sortie at Brgy. Tunasan, Muntinlupa City. ???? Bayan Muna staff pic.twitter.com/7D8N1RNVvs

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) February 12, 2019

Gabriela Women's Party began its campaign with a street dance along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

Gabriela Women’s Party kicks off campaign with street dance at Commonwealth Ave. cor. IBP Road, calls for junking for TRAIN Law. ???? GWP pic.twitter.com/c3jvulfrca

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) February 12, 2019

The party-list group called for the junking of the Duterte administration's Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law and lowering the prices of oil and other basic commodities.

“Napakainam na markahan namin sa Gabriela Party-list ang unang araw ng kampanya ng malakas na pagrehistro ng panawagang ibasura ang TRAIN Law at Oil Deregulation Law, lalo pa’t tumaas na naman ngayong araw ang presyo ng langis," Gabriela's first nominee Representative Arlene Brosas said.

"Sa muling pagsabak natin sa eleksyong party-list, higit nating ipaglalaban ang pagbasura sa mga regresibong buwis na pahirap sa mga kababaihan at kanilang pamilya," she added.

Kabataan party-list, meanwhile, chose to start the campaign period touring various campuses around Metro Manila.

To start its campaign, Kabataan party-list, with its representative Sarah Elago, tours various campus around Metro Manila. ???? KPL staff pic.twitter.com/vnugjDwSrU

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) February 12, 2019

"This coming elections, Kabataan Party-list will carry the 'Agenda ng Kabataan' as we seek re-election and to serve the people once again through the halls of congress," the group's first nominee Representative Sarah Elago said.

"The campaign for free and quality education is far from over; and ultimately the struggle of the youth is bound to the struggle for education.... The struggle to access free and quality education has never stopped being one of the main priority of the youth when it comes to upholding their rights," she added.

Anakpawis party-list Representative Ariel Casilao, meanwhile, joined a motorcade traversing Pasay City, Manila and Quezon City to kick off the group's congressional bid for the upcoming elections.

Rep. Ariel Casilao of Anakpawis party-list joins motorcade traversing Pasay City, Manila and Quezon City on first day of campaign season. pic.twitter.com/3sMlH9EBO0

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) February 12, 2019

"We urge the people to demand from candidates the scrapping of the TRAIN law, the end to contractialization of labor, for the enactment of P750 national minimum wage, free distribution of land to farmers and genuine rice industry development," Casilao said during the campaign sortie.

Akbayan party-list Representative Tom Villarin, for his campaign, went to several markets in Batangas.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Tom Villarin begins campaign season by market-hopping in several municipalities in Batangas. ???? Villarin staff pic.twitter.com/YEwrhKaT1J

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) February 12, 2019

Villarin called for lower prices of goods, decent work and wages, education, health, and security for Filipino families in his campaign.

The official campaign period for party-list groups will end on May 11, while the midterm elections is scheduled on May 13. —KG, GMA News