Bayan Muna tops partylist survey

MANILA, Philippines–Militant group Bayan Muna topped the list of 13 partylist organizations that could fill 25 of the 58 seats allocated for marginalized sectors in the House of Representatives, a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations found.

The results of the March 15 to 17 pre-election survey, first published in the BusinessWorld, showed that Bayan Muna garnered the support of 8.68 percent of the respondents, allowing it to secure at least three seats in Congress based on election rules.

For its survey, SWS asked 1,200 registered voters nationwide the question, “If the elections were held today, which would you most probably vote for as party-list of the Philippines?”

A total of 136 partylist groups are vying for representation in Congress.

For its nominees, Bayan Muna has fielded Neri Colmenares, Carlos Isagani Zarate and Hope Hervilla.

Next to Bayan Muna was Gabriela Women’s Party, who could also secure three seats after garnering 5.55 percent of votes from respondents. Among the group’s nominees are Luzviminda Ilagan, Emerenciana De Jesus and Lucia Francisco.

Eight other organizations could possibly take two seats each based on the survey.

This included Akbayan Citizen’s Action (Akbayan, 3.71 percent); OFW Family Club, Inc. (OFW Family, 3.6 percent); Coalition of Associations of Senior Citizens in the Philippines, Inc. (Senior Citizens, 3.52 percent); and Advocacy For Teacher Empowerment Through Action Cooperation and Harmony Towards Educational Reforms (A Teacher, 3.45 percent);

Also with two seats each were Magdalo Para sa Pilipino (Magdalo, 2.83 percent); Abono (2.6 percent); An Waray (2.49 percent); and Anakpawis (2.45 percent).

Meanwhile, Ang Laban Ng Indiginong Filipino (ALIF, 2.2 percent), Abante Mindanao, Inc. (ABAMIN, 2.14 percent) and Kabataan (2.03 percent), could secure one seat each.

Of the top 13 partylist organizations in the survey, all except OFW Family and Magdalo are part of the 15th Congress.

The partylist system, a form of proportional representation in which voters choose among parties rather than among candidates, was introduced by the 1987 Constitution ostensibly to create a healthy democracy by increasing representation of so-called “marginalized and under-represented” sectors.

Twenty percent of the total number of seats in the House of Representatives are reserved for party-list groups.

In April 2009, the Supreme Court introduced the Carpio formula for the computation of the winners for party-list seats in the House.

Under the formula, groups receiving 2 percent of the votes cast to party-list groups will receive seats in proportion to the votes they receive, up to a maximum of three.

In the next round of seat allocation, the percentage of votes is multiplied by the number of remaining seats, determining the additional slots to be awarded.

Finally, the parties next in rank are given one seat each until all the slots are filled.

Based on the survey results, 33 party-list groups could fill the remaining seats, getting one seat each.

This included: Ako Bicol (AKB, 1.81 percent); Bayani (1.69 percent); You Against Corruption and Poverty (YACAP, 1.62 percent); Agriculture Sector Alliance of the Philippines (AGAP, 1.58 percent); Una Ang Pamilya (1 ANG PAMILYA, 1.56 percent); Abang Lingkod (1.38 percent); Aangat Tayo (1.32 percent); Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC, 1.31 percent); 1st Consumers Alliance for Rural Energy (1-CARE, 1.26 percent); Bantay (1.22 percent); and Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operaytor Nationwide (Piston, 1.16 percent).

Also getting one seat each were: Buhay (1.12 percent); Adhikaing Tinataguyod ng Kooperatiba (Ating Koop, 1.1 percent); Abante Katutubo (Abante KA. 1.08 percent); Coop-NATCCO (1.07 percent); Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC, 0.97 percent); Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP, 0.92 percent); Alay Buhay Community Development Foundation,Inc. (Alay Buhay, 0.91 percent); Sanlakas (0.9 percent); Akap Bata Sectoral Organization for Children, Inc. (Akap Bata, 0.83 percent); Isang Pangarap ng Bahay sa Bagong Buhay ng Maralitang Kababayan Inc. (1-PABAHAY, 0.79 percent).

Rounding up the list were: A Action Moral & Values Recovery Reform Philippines Inc. (1-AAMover, 0.78 percent); ACT Teachers (0.77 percent); Isang Alyansang Aalalay Sa Pinoy Skilled Workers (1-AALALAY, 0.73 percent); Ating Guro (0.72 percent); LPG Marketers Association, Inc. (LPGMA, 0.69 percent); Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD, 0.68 percent); Alyansang Bayanihan ng mga Magsasaka, Manggagawang Bukid at Mangingisda (ABA, 0.66 percent); Binhi-Partido Ng Mga Magsasaka para Sa Mga Magsasaka (BINHI, 0.65 percent); Agri-Agra na Reporma para sa Magsasaka ng Pilipinas Movement (AGRI, 0.65 percent), Bagong Henerasyon (BH, 0.567 percent); Kalinga-Advocacy For Social Empowerment And Nation Building Through Easing Poverty, Inc. (Kalinga, 0.562 percent); and Pasang Masda Nationwide, Inc. (Pasang Masda, 0.55 percent).

The non-commissioned survey, which used face-to-face interviews, has an error margin of plus-or-minus 3 percentage points. Inquirer Research