'Hijacking' of party-list system erodes farmer representation

THE party-list system was designed to represent specific interests in Congress like agriculture, but has been co-opted by dynastic politicians, political analysts said.

- By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza Reporter

"The party-list system has been hijacked by traditional politicians and dynasties. It is difficult to win seats if the playing field is not even," Maria Ela L. Atienza, a political scientist at the University of the Philippines, said via Viber.

"While we have genuine progressive candidates from the farming and fishing sectors running at the Senate level, elections in the Philippines are still dominated by elites, celebrities and political dynasties," she added.

The Philippines will hold midterm elections today, Monday, with 12 seats in the 24-member Senate and over 300 seats in the House of Representatives up for grabs.

Randy P. Tuaño, dean at the Ateneo School of Government, said the achievement of major reforms has been marked by concerted efforts by farmer interest groups.

He said the farm lobby was strong in the 1980s, when the main issue was land justice, which led to the passage of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program law in 1988.