Senator Risa Hontiveros and Akbayan Party have filed bills seeking major reforms to the party-list system to stop abuses by political dynasties and contractors.
Hontiveros’ Senate Bill No. 1656 and its House counterpart, House Bill No. (HBN) 7074, aim to bar political dynasties from joining the party-list system and prohibit nominees and representatives with interests in government contracts.
Akbayan party-list Reps. Chel Diokno, Perci Cendaña, Dadah Ismula, and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao filed HBN 7074, saying the measure seeks to restore the system’s original intent of representing marginalized sectors.
The proposals also ban party-list groups named after TV or radio programs, government assistance schemes, public officials, celebrities, or other public figures to prevent misuse as a backdoor to power.
Both bills push to remove the three-seat cap, arguing it distorts proportional representation and limits parties despite strong public support.
Recent reports showed 66 percent of party-lists in the 19th Congress had nominees from political dynasties, while congressional probes revealed several party-list lawmakers also benefit from government projects as contractors—conflicts the bills aim to end.IMT
