THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS HAS virtually declared the party-list system a “free market” to include the ruling elite. Given Comelec Chair Jose Melo’s very “mata-pobre” (condescending) opinion that marginalized groups do not have educated leaders who are capable of leading their organizations, the party-list system has ceased to be a legal and humane intervention for the truly marginalized sectors of our society.
To minimize this obvious circumvention of the party-list system, we offer the following guidelines which may help voters distinguish the fakes from the genuine party-list groups:
1. If a party-list group has financial resources for TV, radio and print infomercials, beware! Funds donated to marginalized groups are reserved for specific projects—not for publicity.
2. Nominees of marginalized groups are usually selected by their own constituencies. They are supposed to be well-known leaders of their sector and therefore have no need for an expensive nationwide campaign.
3. Be wary of “instant” party-list groups invented from the alphabet. Chances are they are being used as doormats by ambitious individuals who want to gain entry into Congress and get their hands on the pork barrel.
4. Start doubting if the nominees of a party-list group are generous in spending organization money for their political campaign. As conduits of funding agencies, party lists are supposed to spend donations and grants received by them for livelihood projects, capacity-building and poverty-alleviation programs.
5. If a party-list group is closely identified with a particular political party or politician, it has dubious integrity and loyalty. Investigate their relationship before deciding whether to vote for it or not.
6. Industry groups or business associations do not fall within the purview of the party-list concept. They have the means to advance their interests by lobbying and articulating their views in mainstream media.
—EVA M. INCIONG,
retired chair, Rizpec Foundation for Sustainable Development, Quezon City
March –
IT’S WOMEN’S MONTH!
“Respect and support women
every day of the year/s!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week;
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and “
Made-in-the-Philippines Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
March 4: Employee Appreciation Day
March 15: World Consumer Rights Day
March 18: Global Recycling Day
March 21: International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination
March 23: International Day for the Right to the Truth
Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations
and for the Dignity of Victims
March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the
Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 27: Earth Hour
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