Comelec hopes for Congress decision on party-list system before October

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is hoping that any change in the party-list system will be made before October so that the poll body can apply it during its preparation for the 2028 National and Local Elections, chairperson George Garcia said Thursday.

The Party-list System Reform Act is pending second reading in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Garcia shared that as part of the technical working group, Comelec would provide its expertise to the final version of the proposed measure.

“Kung magkakaroon ng pagbabago ng party-list system, sana dumating bago dumating ang buwan ng Oktubre kasi deadline namin ng pagfa-file ng petition,” Garcia said, as the Comelec attended a hearing at the House of Representatives.

(If ever there will be changes in the party-list system, I hope it comes before October because that’s our deadline for filing petitions for registration.)

“Dahil gusto namin mas maaga ang paghahanda para sa 2028 National and Local Election. Of course, puwede naman po kaming mag-extend kung kaya nga lang gusto po natin na masasa lang namin nang mabuti at maayos yung mga magpapa-accredit ng political parties, party organizations, pati ang mga nominee nila base sa ipapas na batas,” he added.

(Because we want to start preparations for the 2028 National and Local Elections earlier. Of course, we can extend the deadline, but we want to make sure that we have enough time to properly and thoroughly assess the applications for accreditation of political parties and party organizations, as well as their nominees, based on the law that will be passed.)

“Dapat ibalik natin ang ano ba ang original na mga sektor na nakalagay sa Constitution. Kabataan, kababaihan, pesant, ang mga mangingisda, ang mga veterans, PWDs at mga iba pang sektor na nakalagay sa saligang batas. Nawala po kasi yung mga yan eh, and therefore kahit sino puwedeng magpa-accredit,” Garcia said.

(We should bring back the original sectors identified in the Constitution, such as the youth, women, peasants, fisherfolk, veterans, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and other sectors specified in the Constitution. These sectors were removed, which is why practically anyone can apply for accreditation.)

“Kung yan mababalik natin, ibig sabihin ang bawat mga sektor na ito na talagang marginalized at underrepresented ay magkakaroon ng boses dahil sigurado meron sila sa party-list,” he added.

(If we can bring those sectors back, it would mean that each of these marginalized and underrepresented sectors would have a voice because they would be guaranteed representation in the party-list system.)

Under Section 5 (2), Article VI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, party-list representatives should be elected from the “labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth, and such other sectors as may be provided by law, except the religious sector.” –NB, GMA News