Most Filipinos not aware of party-list mode

Almost seven out of 10 Filipinos are unaware of the party-list system for Congress, results of a recent Pulse Asia survey showed.

The results of the Pulse Asia survey, which were released on Wednesday showed 69 percent of Filipinos are not aware of the party-list system, or have not read or heard about it.

Only three out of 10 Filipinos, or 31 percent are aware of the party-list system.

“This low level of awareness is registered just about four months before the electorate opts for a party-list group for the fifth instance since 1998, when this mode of proportional representation was introduced in our elections,” Pulse Asia said.

It noted that it is only in the National Capital Region (Metro Manila) where a majority, or 51 percent of the voters are aware of the party-list system.

In the rest of Luzon, awareness is 29    percent; in the Visayas, 30 percent; and in Mindanao, 28 percent.

The current level of awareness of the party-list system is just about half of the awareness level posted in the last survey, which was conducted in April 2007, where a 59 percent awareness was recorded.

“The current dismal level of awareness is the lowest that had been recorded across the surveys conducted by Pulse Asia from early 2004,” the survey firm’s report added.

Nine groups get required votes
Of the 150 accredited party-list groups, Pulse Asia said that nine managed to get more than the required 2 percent support from the voters.

For every 2-percent vote, a party-list group is entitled to one seat in the House of Representatives.

Poised to have three representatives if the May 10 elections were held today, according to the Pulse Asia survey, are Bayan
Muna (8.03 percent), 1-Aangat Pilipino (6.34 percent), Anakpawis (5.88 percent), Gabriela (5.55 percent) and Akbayan (5.07 percent).

Assured of two seats if the polls were held today are Ahon Pinoy (3.32 percent), Aangat Tayo (3.22 percent), Anak Mindanao (2.8 percent) and Abono (2.59 percent).

The latest Pulse Asia survey on the party-list system was conducted from January 22 to 26 using sample ballots filled in by 1,800 respondents 18 years old and above.

The survey has a plus or minus 2 percent error margin and has various error margins in different areas:  plus or minus 6 percent for Metro Manila; plus or minus 4 percent for the rest of Luzon; and plus or minus 5 percent for each of the Visayas and Mindanao. –Rommel C. Lontayao, Reporter, Manila Times