Trade Union Congress Party (TUCP) Party-list Rep. Raymond Mendoza has called for stricter rules on party-list names, urging Congress to prohibit groups from using the names, trademarks, or popular programs of government agencies to prevent voter confusion and misrepresentation.
Speaking during a House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms hearing, Mendoza said the proposed measure would bar party-list groups from adopting names associated with government agencies, government programs, and popular personalities.
“This bill bars the use of names or brand names referring to government agencies and programs as well as popular programs, personalities as party list names which may lead to misrepresentation,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza cited the controversial use of government program names in party-list branding, noting that such practices could blur the distinction between government initiatives and political organizations.
“Good thing, hindi nanalo yung TUPAD. Diba? Yung TUPAD party list eh. We may have, if we don't stop this, mayroong AICS. And mga government agencies, naging party list,” he said.
As chairman of the House Committee on Poverty Alleviation, Mendoza said the issue is particularly concerning because existing government programs intended to assist vulnerable Filipinos could be mistaken for party-list organizations.
“I'm a chairman of a Committee on poverty alleviation. There's a program now. It became a party-list. Diba? Kulang na lang, Vivamax Party-list. So, I implore, dapat, we should stop this. That is not correct,” Mendoza said.
The lawmaker also expressed support for provisions that would disqualify individuals related by consanguinity or affinity up to the fourth civil degree of incumbent government officials, as well as those who have served as contractors in government projects.
Mendoza stressed the need to urgently enact reforms to address what he described as the growing influence of political dynasties, business magnates, and entrenched elites within the party-list system.
“I agree. We should urgently pass the Party-List Reform Act because of political dynasties, business magnates who are now well entrenched as members of this house, entrenched elites and those with dubious interests,” he said.
He warned that allowing such interests to dominate party-list seats undermines the constitutional purpose of the system, which was created to provide representation to marginalized and underrepresented sectors.
“Together, let us save the party-less system from them and return it to the original mandate because the bastardization is an insult to every marginalized and underrepresented Filipino, most especially to the working class of this country,” Mendoza said.
