Partylist bills not for their sector

CEBU, Philippines - More than half of the bills filed by 15 party-list representatives do not represent their sectors, a report released by one party-list group revealed.

In a press conference yesterday, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) distributed a report that highlighted the bills filed by An Waray representatives Florencio Noel and Neil Benedict Montejo that were not related to their sectors in the Visayas.

"Rep. Noel of An Waray who represents the Waraynons and other urban and rural poor sectors, has filed bills on the revitalization of the coconut industry, modernization of chemistry in the Philippines, reduction of water rates in barangays, and the repair of public school classrooms - all of which have no specific bearing in the Visayas region," the report said.

It added that Montejo filed his lone bill on scholarship grants to poor but deserving students.

The report also mentioned the bills filed by Ako Bicol representatives Rodel Batocabe and Alfredo Garbin Jr. amending the National Electrification Administration and the Higher Education Act of 1994, respectively.

The report  added "they have not filed bills on the concerns of their fellow Bicolanos."

The study also showed that Rep. Teodorico Haresco of Kasangga Partylist, representing the sector of micro entrepreneurs, has filed 16 bills, none of which representing the interests of small-time businesses.

"Some of his bills are on excise taxes and allowances to barangay tanods, judges, and justices, among others, which do not at all concern the interests of vendors and small enterprises," the report added.

It also mentioned Rep. Mikey Arroyo of Ang Galing Pinoy, a party-list representing security guards and personnel.

Meanwhile, representatives Ponciano Payuyo (APEC), Nasser Pangandaman (AA-KASOSYO), Robert Estrella and Francisco Ortega (Abono party-list), and Patricio Antonio (Agbiag) "authored no bills."

On the other hand, the report said that Bayan Muna representative and senatorial candidate Teddy Casiño filed the most number of bills, with many of them relating to his sector of working classes.

ANAD partylist was also among those identified to have filed bills not related to the sector it is representing.

The Philippine party-list system aims to allow representatives from the marginalized and underrepresented to participate in the creation of laws that cater to the concerns of the sectors they represent, the report said. (FREEMAN)