Senate to tackle party-list reforms, anti-dynasty bill

The Senate is set to take up proposed party-list reforms and an anti-political dynasty bill - both seen as having a strong chance of passage - when session resumes tomorrow after the chamber's recess, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said yesterday.

- By NEIL JAYSON SERVALLOS

Sotto said President Marcos has stressed the urgency of several priority measures, including reforms to the party-list system, which he said has drifted far from its original purpose of representing marginalized sectors.

He noted that other priority bills already in advanced stages include the Freedom of Information measure, the Classroom Acceleration Act and the Philippine Geriatric Center bill.

"The President wants almost all of these measures expedited," Sotto said over radio dwIZ.

However, Sotto underscored that correcting what he described as the abuse of the party-list system has become particularly pressing.

He said successive rulings by the Commission on Elections and the Supreme Court have distorted the system's original framework.

"The President agrees with us that the party-list system has been abused. The eight marginalized sectors are no longer there. What happened is that it ballooned to nearly a hundred sectors - everyone is now considered marginalized," Sotto said in Filipino.

He stressed that the 1987 Constitution and existing laws clearly identified the intended beneficiaries of the system, such as farmers, fisherfolk, the urban poor, senior citizens, youth, women, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities.

"How did Bicol, Cebu or Davao become marginalized? How did contractors become marginalized?" Sotto asked.

Despite clear constitutional and legal parameters, Sotto said petitions granted by Comelec and the SC allowed the number of recognized sectors to expand from fewer than 10 to around 100.