House of Representatives conducts public consultation on proposed Party-List Act in Caraga
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The House of Representatives, through the Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms chaired by Lanao del Sur 1st District Congressional Representative Zia Alonto Adiong, spearheaded the public consultation on the proposed Party-List Act at the gymnasium of Caraga State University main campus in Barangay Ampayon, Butuan City.
Held on November 5, the consultation sought to gather insights, recommendations, and inputs from approximately 1,500 voters representing various sectors of society in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, and other provinces across the Caraga region on the proposed reforms to the party-list system as part of the continuing efforts of the House of Representatives to strengthen the country’s electoral framework and democratic processes.
Rep. Alonto Adiong shared that the proposed Party-List Act, or House Bill No. 9906, was filed by House Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ De Guzman Dy, which seeks to amend the 1995 Party-list System Act, or Republic Act No. 7941.
“Nearly three decades after the first party-list elections, we must confront difficult but necessary questions. Who truly speaks for the people? Who deserves to occupy the seats meant to represent them? And how do we ensure that the representation system remains an instrument of democracy rather than merely another avenue to political power?” Adiong said in his opening remarks.
He emphasized that the proposed reforms aim to address longstanding questions surrounding the party-list system and ensure that congressional seats intended for marginalized and underrepresented sectors serve their intended beneficiaries.
The lawmaker said that the consultation forms part of the consistent endeavor of the House of Representatives to also bring the legislative process closer to the people and provide opportunities for stakeholders to participate in shaping laws that directly affect them.
“And because these reforms concern the people’s representation, it is only right that the people themselves have a meaningful role in shaping them,” he added.
Rep. Alonto Adiong was joined by Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, who chairs the technical working group on the proposed New Party-List Act; Abamin Party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr.; ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio; 4Ps Party-list Rep. JC Abalos; Agusan del Norte Rep. Dale Corvera; and Butuan City Rep. Jose “Joboy” Aquino II.
The activity, serving as the Mindanao leg, marked the first in a series of nationwide public consultations on the proposed Party-list Act. The second consultation, covering the Visayas, is scheduled for Iloilo City on November 21, 2026, while the Luzon leg is tentatively set for December this year. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands)