House Speaker Martin Romualdez (left), Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co (Speaker’s office, Facebook)

Fifteen million votes.

This was House Speaker Martin Romualdez's "conservative" estimate on the number of votes that the Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. (PCFI) can muster for the 11 candidates of the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial ticket.

On Wednesday, the Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. (PCFI) led by its president Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co followed the lead of dominant party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) and announced its all-out backing of the Alyansa slate.

“Like the [Lakas-CMD] where the good Speaker is the party president, the PCFI also stand united in declaring our full and unwavering support for the 11 senatorial candidates of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.,” Zaldy Co said during the event.

Romualdez, who was also in attendance, appealed to the PCFI members to follow through for President Marcos' handpicked "senatoriables".

“So, we are appealing you na straight Alyansa na lang tayo (let's go straight Alyansa). If we can go straight Alyansa, we will demonstrate the political clout [of the party-list lawmakers],” the Speaker said.

“Conservatively speaking, when the party-list acts together or in unison, we are talking of a conservative 15 million votes that you can command easily,” noted Romualdez, as he galvanized the party-list solons of the 19th Congress.

Comprising Alyansa are former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III; former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Benhur Abalos; former Senators Panfilo Lacson, Manny Pacquiao; Senators Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Francis Tolentino; Makati City Mayor Abby Binay; House Deputy Speaker Las Piñas City lone district Rep. Camille Villar; and House Deputy Majority Leader ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo. 

Talino at Galing ng Pinoy (TGP) Party-list Rep. Jose "Bong" Teves Jr. and Barangay Health Workers Party-list Rep. Angelica Natasha Co, both PCFI officials, said their bloc is solidly behind the Alyansa slate.

They said it's "a necessary and strategic show of unity to ensure that the next Senate will be able to meaningfully collaborate" with the Marcos administration.

“These are not unfamiliar names to us. They are tried and tested public servants who know how to get the job done, especially in the Senate where deliberation and policy depth are critical,” Teves said.

Natasha Co, for her part, said: “Political dynamics may shift, but our support remains fixed on candidates who continue to walk with us in our pursuit of genuine development and inclusive progress."

In reaffirming the coalition’s backing, Zaldy Co also emphasized the role of party-lists in mobilizing voters, especially from grassroots sectors. 

He says the PCFI intends to campaign actively for the Alyansa candidates and maximize their reach at the community level where the party-list system draws its strength.

“Strong leadership in the Senate complements strong leadership in Malacañang,” said the Ako Bicol lawmaker.

“If we want reforms to be felt, we need partners in the upper chamber who will push with us, not pull us back,” he added.