SEN. Bam Aquino has filed a bill seeking to reform the country’s party-list system by ensuring that it remains exclusively for marginalized and underrepresented sectors, amid growing concerns that the mechanism has been exploited by political dynasties and vested interests. Senate Bill (SB) 1559 amends Republic Act (RA) 7941, or the Party-List System Act. Aquino said the original intent of the law has been undermined by groups and nominees who do not genuinely belong to, nor represent, marginalized sectors. He cited a 2025 study by election watchdog group Kontra Daya, which found that 86 of the 156 accredited party-list groups that participated in the May elections had links to vested interests, including political clans and large corporations. The study also showed that several nominees were relatives or close allies of incumbent politicians and business groups, with no clear track record of belonging to the sectors they claimed to represent. The findings were reinforced when Congress proclaimed 63 party-list groups as members of the 20th Congress on May 19, with 40 of those groups previously flagged in Kontra Daya’s report. Aquino said the data points to a systemic problem that disadvantages the very sectors the party-list system was meant to empower. Civil society organizations, including the John J. Carroll Institute on Church and Social Issues (ICSI), have repeatedly warned against what they describe as the “elite capture” of the party-list system, calling for reforms to restore its credibility and integrity. Under SB 1559, party-list groups must undergo public hearings to demonstrate that they genuinely represent marginalized sectors. The measure also seeks to ensure that party-list nominees come from the sectors they represent and have a proven track record of advocacy. The bill proposes the disqualification of nominees who belong to political dynasties or who have financial links to corporations that have benefited from government contracts. Aquino stressed that the proposed reforms aim to strengthen democratic participation and public trust in electoral institutions. “This measure ensures that the party-list system truly serves the many, not the few,” he said. If enacted, the bill would introduce stricter safeguards on accreditation and nomination processes, reinforcing the party-list system as a tool for inclusive representation and accountable governance.