(PNA)

The Makabayan coalition said the electoral system in the Philippines, which favors costly campaign spending over a promising political platform, makes it difficult for opposition figures to leave their stamp on national and local elections.

This, as the progressive group announced their plan to field a complete slate of 12 senatorial candidates for the upcoming 2025 mid-term elections.

“We know that it is going to be very difficult given the character of our elections, our electoral system, at saka ‘yung ating lipunan (and our society as well),” said Liza Maza, a co-chairperson of Makabayan.

“It’s going to be an uphill battle,” she added.

Neri Colmenares, another co-chairperson, pointed out that because of the nature of this electoral system it becomes prone to corruption.

“So, may kahirapan talaga ang mga oposisyon, lalo na ang mga kandidatong hindi nagnakaw no’ng nasa Kongreso sila, wala silang pondo,” said Colmenares.

(So, this is a huge challenge to the opposition, especially the candidates who did not steal when they were in Congress, they have no funds.)

“The other way of course is for us to run sa administrasyon (to the administration) but we cannot do that. Kung tatakbo ka sa administrasyon may chance kang manalo, hindi naman namin pwedeng gawin ‘yun (If you run for the administration you have a chance to win, but we can't do that),” he clarified.

With this, Colmenares said their best option is to utilize the group’s support from the youth.

“Tama ang paghikayat sa mga kabataan. At ang Makabayan senatorial slate, ang plataporma niya una muna may kabataan talaga diyan na kandidato dapat,” he said.

(It is right to encourage young people. And the Makabayan senatorial slate, the platform will have a youth representative as a candidate.)

He said the group’s senatorial slate will prioritize issues “close to the heart of the youth” such as endo contractualization.

For this very reason, Maza says she is “hopeful” for next year’s polls as Makabayan’s Senate slate intends to run on a platform that stands for issues concerning the youth and other sectors in society that are shunned by traditional politicians.