Progressive Group Profiles, Laws Passed and Bills Authored

KABATAAN PARTY-LIST

Profiles and Objectives:

Ignacio (2019) states that youth policy serves as a tool in promoting the greater participation
of young people on the issues of society and government. The Kabataan Party-list is a youth in the
Philippine Congress that continuously gives primacy to the promotion of holistic development and
genuine youth empowerment. It supports youth and student-led organizations working for social
and political change. The Kabataan Partylist is the Philippines' first and only youth party-list group.
As the youth's voice, they have advocated for free tuition and other school fees at state and local
universities, as well as free public internet access. With the state's ongoing attacks on its people's
rights, it is the youth's responsibility to remain at the forefront of student and people's campaigns
(Kabataan Partylist, 2022). It aims to galvanize the Filipino youth’s unity for social change, believing
that the youth should "devote its intellect, energy, and courage to building a new society devoid of
corruption, inequality, and social injustice (Kabataan Partylist, 2022).
It aims to "galvanize the Filipino youth’s unity for social change," believing that the youth
should "devote its intellect, energy, and courage to building a new society devoid of corruption,
inequality, and social injustice (Kabataan Partylist, 2022).

Laws Passed:

According to the information provided by the Official Gazzete, the laws passed by the
members of the Kabataan Party List who had won seats as a member of the House of
Representatives, such acts and bills had been focused towards the rights of individuals
particularly on the freedom to information, freedom of the press, freedom of speech and other
right pertained in the constitution which among are claimed by the members of the party-list
according to Elago (2020) are said to be widely ignored by the members of the Philippine
government. The party-list had been involved and contributed towards laws that were previously
passed which includes Republic Act 10368 which pertains to an act that recognizes and the
reparation of the victims of human rights violations during the Marcos Regime, they also had been
involved in the passing of Republic Act 11440 which is an act recognizing the observance of July
25 of every year as the National Campus Press Freedom Day. The membersof the party-list had
also shown major oppositions regarding the Anti-Terror Act of 2020 which is an act that prevent,
prohibit, and penalize terrorism which according to Gotinga (2021) possess provisions that violates
the constitutional rights of an individual or in other words, certain provision of the act were said to
be unconstitutional.
Principal Authored Bills ( congress.gov.ph)
House Bill No. 00226
It pertains to an act that strengthens the people’s right to information which involves
government’s official records, documents, and any other information of public concern. It provides
that the access of information shall be enshrined which therefore enable the people to be given
access to any records under the control of a government agency. In addition, the bill provides that
agencies and public officials have the duty to disclose and make available for the reproduction of
information pertaining to government official acts, transactions as well as government research
data used as a basis for policy development.
House Bill No. 05869

It pertains to an act upholding and promoting campus journalism and campus press
freedom, which is said to repeal Republic Act No. 7079 , which is an act penalizing violations
against campus press freedom, This involves the recognition of the student’s rights to grievances,
freedom of speech and freedom of the press which includes the right to criticize government
policies.
House Bill No. 08544

It pertains to an act upholding academic freedom of all academic institutions. It provides

that schools, colleges and universities all around the country should be a safe place where critical
thinking and independent thought are given utmost priority where students and faculties should
be given the ability to freely discuss ideals without any fear of prosecution.

ANAK BAYAN PARTY-LIST

Profile and Objectives:
Anakbayan is a comprehensive National Democratic mass organization of Filipino youth
whose mission is to rouse, organize, and mobilize youth for national democracy from a socialist
perspective. Since its inception, Anakbayan has aroused, organize, and mobilize thousands of
youth for National Democracy through its chapters across the country. It ties the struggles of the
youth sector to the struggles of the entire population. It brings together youth workers, farmers, the
urban poor, students, professionals, women, migrants, Moro, and other national minorities to
advance and succeed in the National Democratic struggle of the Filipino people. It will be deeply
integrated with the strength and struggle of the toiling masses, as well as the struggle for the youth's
immediate and long-term needs (Anak Bayan Orientation, 2011).
Laws Passed:

Just like the Kabataan Party, the “Bagong Alyansang Makabayan” or in short, the “Anak
Bayan” had also established bills and passed laws that involves the rights of an individual
regarding the rights to grievances, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to
information and other related rights provided by the Bill of Rights in accordance to Article III of
the 1987 constitution. This involves Republic Act 10368 recognizing humans rights victims under
the Marcos administration, Campus Journalism Act of 1991 providing freedom of the press by
campus students, Workers Welfare and Protection Act protecting workers from abuses from co-
workers and company managements, Magna Carta of Students and Tuition Regulation Law
granting the protection on the rights of students and the lowering of tuition fees and bills protecting
and empowering bloggers and netizens (Caraga State University, 2019).
Principal Authored Bills (congress.gov.ph)
House Bill No. 00240

It is an act that defines the rights and fundamental freedoms of human rights defenders
which declares states responsibilities and institutes effective mechanisms for the protection and
promotion of the rights and freedoms of the said defenders. It values the dignity of human rights
defenders and to recognize, respect, protect, promote and to fulfill the rights and freedoms of
persons.
House Bill No. 00320

It is an act that provides for the mandatory study of human rights in the curricula in all
levels of education. It states that all public and private schools should include in their courses or
subjects’ special lectures regarding human rights which according to the bill should be taught in
separate courses or incorporated in existing subjects to all levels of education in the Philippines.
House Bill No. 0525

It is an act that defines the rights of women deprived of liberty in jails and correctional
facilities and provides fund for its enforcement.

AKBAYAN PARTY-LIST

Profile and Objectives:

AKBAYAN is dedicated to a platform created and designed by society's most diverse

segments. Their platform, which was approved during our 3rd Regular Congress on October 13-
14, 2006, with their promise: AKBAYAN will work for the passage of laws or policies, as well as the
implementation of programs, that will bring Filipinos' lives into the realms of human dignity, both
inside and outside Congress, in local and national government institutions. AKBAYAN's
development platform is centered on the goal of providing decent work and a sustainable livelihood
for all. This refers to work that both sustains life by meeting human needs and provides leisure. It
is work that assumes the absence of any form of discrimination and results in a positive and
creative contribution to society and the development of the country. To strengthen this program
even further, AKBAYAN has launched an in-depth investigation into how current macroeconomic,
monetary, fiscal, trade, and other policies have harmed rather than helped employment,
According to Tomacruz (2021), It is a progressive group that looks upon the rights of the
individual and looks upon the actions and policies established by the members of the Philippine
government or in other words they serve as watchdogs. Also, it had been one of the political
groups in pushing of the SOGIE bill which recognizes the rights of the LGBTQ+ community
despite not currently being implemented as a law but is said to be on progress into becoming
one.

Notable Laws that were Passed by the Party List: (Official Gazette)
Republic Act 9481

It is an act that strengthens the worker’s constitutional right to self-organization.

Republic Act 10368

It provides that the state recognizes the heroism and sufferings of all Filipinos and it also
includes that it shall provide reparation to the victims and families for the deaths, sufferings,
deprivations as well as damages that they have suffered and experienced under the Marcos
Regime (Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board, 2022)
Republic Act 9502

It is an act that provides for cheaper quality medicines where it shall recognize the
regulation of prices of drugs and medicines with clear accountability with the implementing
authority as well as to promote and to ensure access to quality affordable medicines.
Republic Act 11313

It is an act that defining gender-based sexual harassment in streets, public spaces, online,
work places, and educational or training institution which provides protective measures and
prescribing penalties. It also particularly protects Filipinas from catcalling, persistent requests,
groping and other form of street harassment.
Republic Act 10932

It is an act that strengthens penalties against hospitals who violates the Anti-hospital
Deposit Law.

BAHAGHARI PARTY-LIST :

Profile and Objectives:

In the Philippines, Bahaghari is a national-democratic organization of LGBT militants and
patriots. It fights for national emancipation alongside oppressed people in economic, political, and
cultural fields (Bahaghari LGBT, 2022). According to Jaician (2020), the 2019 Metro Manila Pride
March attracted 70,000 people who braved the traffic and rain to celebrate and express their
support for LGBTQ+ rights. Furthermore, Bahaghari joins the many civil society organizations that
have spoken out against the Anti-Terrorism Law, which contains broad provisions that criminalize
many forms of ordinary dissent. Bahaghari also criticized the Philippine government for its
militarized response to the pandemic, as well as a lack of aid and support for its people. Since
then, Bahaghari has established new chapters in several provinces across the country. The
organization's social media pages have received thousands of likes and followers in just a few
months, and it plans to maintain the momentum through ongoing online and offline mobilizing and
organizing (Langara, 2021).

Laws Passed:

Being one of the of the gender advocating groups in the Philippines, the group had
supported laws and bills which relates to the rights of the individual’s gender and the prevention
of prejudice and discrimination. Among these laws that were supported by the group are the
SOGIE Bill which provides for the rights of an individual’ gender and sexual orientation and
promoting equality among genders in the society. Despite the bill not being declared as a laws
they have been continuing to pressure the government to push it into a law with the support of
Akbayan party list member Risa Hontiveros who is one of the incumbent senators of the
Philippines (Manuel, 2022).
References:

Akbayan. (n.d.). Where We Stand. https://akbayan.org.ph/where-we-stand

Anak Bayan. (2011, May 5). Oryentasyon ng Anakbayan.

https://vdocuments.net/anakbayan-orientation-for-6th-congress.html

Gotinga, J. C. (2021, December 9) Philippines Supreme Court Strikes Down Anti-Terror

Law Provision that Prevents Dissent. Benar News.
https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/philippine/philippines-terrorism-law-
12092021122921.html

GOVPH. (n.d.) Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines.

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph

House of Representatives of the Philippines. (n.d.). Congrss.Gov.Ph.

https://www.congress.gov.ph

Ignacio, L. (2019, September 24). Youth in Nation Building Act: Policy Development
asinfluenced by the young through the Kabataan Party List.

Jaucian, D. (2020, June 26). A look into organizing Pride March in the Philippines (and why it's
still a protest). https://www.cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2020/6/26/pride-march-as-
protest.html

Manuel, P. (2022, January 15). Hontiveros to continue push for SOGIE equality bill passage
in next congress. Cnn. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/6/15/Risa-Hontiveros-
SOGIE-Equality-Bill-19th-Congress.html

Severo, J. (2021, April 21). Gumeching vatai sa Needine Lustr': LGBTQ group launches
rainbow community pantry. https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/on-the
radar/2021/04/21/2092741/gumeching-vatai-sa-needine-lustre-lgbtq-group-launches-
rainbow- community-pantry

Tomacruz, S. (2021, August 1). Akbayan to field new faces for 2022 party-list polls.
RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/akbayan-nominees-2022-party-list-
polls/