Abono, OFW Family Party Lists Assured of Cong Seat

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Farmers’ group Abono and OFW Family Club have been assured of one seat each for the incoming 18^th Congress of the Philippines, according to the May 3-6, 2019 survey of Pulse Asia.

According to the Constitution selection or election of Partylists come from the labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth, and such other sectors as may be provided by law, except the religious sector.

There were 134 partylist groups according to the Commission on Election in the May 13, 2019 election when, according to Pulse Asia, only nine (9) party list get the support of the 2.0 percent Filipino voters.

Based on the procedures for the allocation of the maximum numbers of 59 seat representatives described in the resolution issued by the Supreme Court in February 17, 2017, these groups’ Anti-Crime & Terrorism Community Involvment and Support, Inc. (ACT-CIS), Ako Bicol Political Party (Ako Bicol), and Ang Bayan Muna  would succeed in winning three seats each in the House of Representatives, the maximum number of seats that any partylist can obtain in the election.

OFW FAMILY CLUB –  Roy Señeres Jr. (4^th from left), nominee of the OFW Family Club Party list, answers questions by media men when he and partymates barnstorm the vote rich province of Pangasinan. Dr. Phine Dulay-Marin (2^nd from right), provincial coordinator, and some of the brass listen. MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

If the number of sectoral representatives does not reach 20% of the total number of representatives in the House, parties that have not won seats but garnered enough votes to place them among the top sectoral parties are given a seat each until the 57 seats are filled, according to Wikipidea.

The Abono Party-list presently occupies two seats at the 17th Congress of the House of Representatives. It is represented by congressmen Conrad M. Estrella III and Vini Nola A. Ortega, members of the illustrious families in Pangasinan and La Union provinces.

Electoral performances of the Pangasinan based party list in the past four elections.

Election	Votes	%	Seats
2007	340,002	2.12%	1
2010	766,993	2.58%	2
2013	767,645	2.80%	2
2016	732,060	2.26%	2

Other Pangasinan based partylist groups did not make the winning circle based on the latest poll from Pulse Asia.

OFW Family Club first nominee is Alberto “Bobby” Pacquiao. Its second nominess is Roy Señeres Jr.

The group was established in 2000 by the late Roy Señeres Sr, labor attaché to Abu Dhabi during the 1980s.

Pacquiao, brother of Senator Manny Pacquiao, has been involved in politics since 2013, when he ran and won as a barangay (village) councilor. In 2016, according to Rappler, he became a councilor in General Santos City.

Seneres Jr. wants to unite more  overseas contract workers (OFWs) through the organization. He's also pushing for more ambassadors, attachès, and welfare officers to be deployed.

"Isipin mo, ilang libong mga Pilipino ang umaalis sa bansa, ang labor attaché mo ganoon pa rin – isa, dalawa, tatlo. Ang welfare officer mo ganoon din. So, sa ratio niyan, kita mo talaga, nasasaturate sila doon. So we need to add more," he said.

READ MY OTHER ARTICLE:

The General Who Saved Mindanao