Ang Probinsyano Party-List yesterday said the party-list system should never be abused amid Malacanang’s comments that many party-list congressmen are either communist insurgents or controlled by or are billionaires themselves.
In separate interviews over One Balita Pilipinas and Kapihan sa Manila Bay, Number 50 Ang Probinsyano Party-List Rep. Alfred Delos Santos said party-list groups should genuinely represent the interest of marginalized sectors.
“The party-list system should not be used as gateway of those aspiring seats in Congress, nor should it be used by people allegedly serving as legal fronts of communist rebels seeking to overthrow the government,” Delos Santos said.
The lawmaker pointed out the important role that party-list groups play in the country’s political system because they are the voice of the marginalized or under-represented sectors.
“We are aware of reports that there are doubts on some party-list groups but from our end, I can very well say that we are among the most active members of Congress who are doing everything we can to push for the betterment of the marginalized sectors that we are representing,” Delos Santos said.
The Number 50 Ang Probinsyano Party-List, which pushes for equal opportunities for all probinsyanos, vowed to continue crafting measures that seek to promote access to education, livelihood, food and health for people in the countryside.
“As someone who grew up and was educated in the province, I have seen the inequality in terms of opportunities. That is why I know what I am fighting for, I know what bills we need to craft to improve the lives of our fellow probinsyanos,” Delos Santos said.
He cited, as an example, the need to equip farmers with technology in order for them to increase their produce and become more competitive.