Akbayan Citizens' Action Party
Encyclopedia
The Akbayan Citizens' Action Party or AKBAYAN is a registered national political party representing marginalized sectors in the Philippines. Akbayan first participated in the partylist elections in the House of Representatives in the 1998 National Elections
(when the first party-list election was held) and won one seat. The first representative was Hon. Loretta Ann P. Rosales, a staunch human rights activist and election reform advocate.
In the 2001 party-list elections
, the party was able to garner two seats in the 12th Congress
with 377,852 votes. Rosales and Hon. Mario Aguja were the representatives from 2001 to 2004. In the 2004 National Elections
, the party had 852,473 votes, winning 3 seats in congress. Rosales, Aguja and Hon. Ana Theresia "Risa" Hontiveros-Baraquel became the party's representatives to the 13th Congress
.
After only having 466,019 votes in the recent 2007 party-list election
, one seat was given to Akbayan with Baraquel serving for a second term in the 14th Congress
. Walden Bello
soon joined Hontiveros in Congress when the Supreme Court decided on the correct computation for party-list seats.
For the 15th Congress
, Akbayan garnered more than one million votes in the 2010 party-list election
. Rep. Walden Bello
and Atty. Kaka Bag-ao
will represent the party in the House of Representatives for 2010-2013.
Also in the 2010 elections, Akbayan took a leap through the senatorial bid of Risa Hontiveros and supported for the first time a presidential candidate, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III. Hontiveros got 9 million votes and ranked 13th, a record high for a progressive candidate.
regime, formal democracy in the Philippines was restored in 1986 through a broad "people power
" movement. This democracy, however, proved to favor only the political and economic elite of the country. The moving force behind the anti-dictatorship struggle – concerned citizens and progressive groups – has been relegated to the periphery of decision-making and policy implementation. In response, social movements, trade union groups, and political organizations have emerged to challenge state policies through lobbying and pressure politics.
Despite the dynamism of Philippine movements, formal institutions of democracy remained in the hands of the few and the wealthy. It was within this context that the idea of building an alternative, a citizens' political party, first emerged. Social movement groups wanted to be part of the formal processes of government. Akbayan was thus conceived as an effort to institutionalize people power and thereby deepen Philippine democracy.
Consultations on the party-building project began in 1994. Throughout the country, pro-democracy groups were enjoined to help shape the party concept and strategy. Aspirations of various sectors – labor, peasants, youth, women, gays and lesbians, professionals, overseas Filipino workers, urban poor – were discussed and consolidated into a program of governance, while ad hoc structures were formed in Luzon
, Visayas
and Mindanao
. Four years later, in January 1998, Akbayan was formally established through its Founding National Congress. In May of the same year, the new party tested its strength by participating in the local and party-list elections and won seats in the House of Representatives
, and several local government units.
To date, Akbayan is the most vigorous and determined effort from the Philippine progressive community to break the hold of traditional politicians and political parties on Philippine politics.
Philippine general election, 1998
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 11, 1998. The two main competing coalitions in the senatorial election were the Lakas-NUCD-UMDP and the Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino -led coalition composed of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino , Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino , the...
(when the first party-list election was held) and won one seat. The first representative was Hon. Loretta Ann P. Rosales, a staunch human rights activist and election reform advocate.
In the 2001 party-list elections
Philippine House of Representatives elections, 2001
The Elections for the House of Representatives of the Philippines were held on May 14, 2001. This was the next election succeeding the events of the 2001 EDSA Revolution that deposed Joseph Estrada from the presidency; his vice president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo became president, and her party,...
, the party was able to garner two seats in the 12th Congress
12th Congress of the Philippines
The Twelfth Congress of the Philippines was the national Lower House of the legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Senate of the Philippines and House of Representatives of the Philippines...
with 377,852 votes. Rosales and Hon. Mario Aguja were the representatives from 2001 to 2004. In the 2004 National Elections
Philippine general election, 2004
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 10, 2004. The major coalitions that participated are the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan composed of parties that support the candidacy of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino ,...
, the party had 852,473 votes, winning 3 seats in congress. Rosales, Aguja and Hon. Ana Theresia "Risa" Hontiveros-Baraquel became the party's representatives to the 13th Congress
13th Congress of the Philippines
The Thirteenth Congress of the Philippines was the meeting of the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives...
.
After only having 466,019 votes in the recent 2007 party-list election
Philippine House of Representatives elections, 2007
The 2007 Philippine House of Representatives elections were held on May 14, 2007, to elect members to the House of Representatives of the Philippines to serve in the 14th Congress of the Philippines from June 30, 2007, until June 30, 2010...
, one seat was given to Akbayan with Baraquel serving for a second term in the 14th Congress
14th Congress of the Philippines
The Fourteenth Congress of the Philippines was the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives...
. Walden Bello
Walden Bello
Walden Bello is a Filipino author, academic, and political analyst. He is a professor of sociology and public administration at the University of the Philippines Diliman, as well as executive director of Focus on the Global South...
soon joined Hontiveros in Congress when the Supreme Court decided on the correct computation for party-list seats.
For the 15th Congress
15th Congress of the Philippines
The Fifteenth Congress of the Philippines is the current meeting of the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Senate and House of Representatives...
, Akbayan garnered more than one million votes in the 2010 party-list election
Philippine House of Representatives party-list election, 2010
The 2010 House of Representatives of the Philippines party-list election was on May 10, 2010. The whole country was one at-large district, where parties nominate three persons to be their candidates, ranked in order of which they'll be seated if elected...
. Rep. Walden Bello
Walden Bello
Walden Bello is a Filipino author, academic, and political analyst. He is a professor of sociology and public administration at the University of the Philippines Diliman, as well as executive director of Focus on the Global South...
and Atty. Kaka Bag-ao
Kaka Bag-ao
Arlene "Kaka" J. Bag-ao is a human rights lawyer and advocate, and the second representative of Akbayan Party in the 15th Congress of the Philippines.- Education :...
will represent the party in the House of Representatives for 2010-2013.
Also in the 2010 elections, Akbayan took a leap through the senatorial bid of Risa Hontiveros and supported for the first time a presidential candidate, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III. Hontiveros got 9 million votes and ranked 13th, a record high for a progressive candidate.
History
After twenty years of dictatorship under the MarcosFerdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
regime, formal democracy in the Philippines was restored in 1986 through a broad "people power
People power
The term as currently defined was first used in the Philippines in 1986, during the revolt thattoppled the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos. The word is derived from the 1960's flower power movement against the Vietnam War....
" movement. This democracy, however, proved to favor only the political and economic elite of the country. The moving force behind the anti-dictatorship struggle – concerned citizens and progressive groups – has been relegated to the periphery of decision-making and policy implementation. In response, social movements, trade union groups, and political organizations have emerged to challenge state policies through lobbying and pressure politics.
Despite the dynamism of Philippine movements, formal institutions of democracy remained in the hands of the few and the wealthy. It was within this context that the idea of building an alternative, a citizens' political party, first emerged. Social movement groups wanted to be part of the formal processes of government. Akbayan was thus conceived as an effort to institutionalize people power and thereby deepen Philippine democracy.
Consultations on the party-building project began in 1994. Throughout the country, pro-democracy groups were enjoined to help shape the party concept and strategy. Aspirations of various sectors – labor, peasants, youth, women, gays and lesbians, professionals, overseas Filipino workers, urban poor – were discussed and consolidated into a program of governance, while ad hoc structures were formed in Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, Visayas
Visayas
The Visayas or Visayan Islands and locally known as Kabisay-an gid, is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast...
and Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
. Four years later, in January 1998, Akbayan was formally established through its Founding National Congress. In May of the same year, the new party tested its strength by participating in the local and party-list elections and won seats in the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
, and several local government units.
To date, Akbayan is the most vigorous and determined effort from the Philippine progressive community to break the hold of traditional politicians and political parties on Philippine politics.
Organizational structure
Akbayan's organizational structure is guided by the principle of internal democracy. 30% of all leadership positions at every level are reserved for women. The basic unit is the Chapter, organized at the barangay, workplace or school level with a minimum of twelve (12) members. A minimum of six (6) Chapters comprise a Section, which is organized at the municipal, city or sitio level. A minimum of three (3) Sections comprise a Division, which is organized at the provincial, highly-urbanized city or legislative district level. A minimum of three (3) Divisions comprise an Assembly, which is organized at the regional level. A National Congress is the highest governing and policy-making body and convenes every three years. A National Political Council is the second-highest governing body, consisting of delegates elected by the Party's island groupings: Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao. An Executive Committee is tasked with implementing Congress and Council decisions. National Committees to assist the Executive Committee are: Finance, Education, Legislative, International, Public Information, Women, Policies and Issues. A National Secretariat manages day-to-day affairs.Electoral performance
| Election | Votes | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Philippine general election, 1998 The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 11, 1998. The two main competing coalitions in the senatorial election were the Lakas-NUCD-UMDP and the Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino -led coalition composed of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino , Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino , the... |
N/A | N/A | 1 |
| 2001 Philippine general election, 2001 The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 14, 2001. Independent candidate Noli de Castro, a former television anchor of TV Patrol of ABS-CBN was announced as the topnotcher... |
377,852 | 2.50% | 1 |
| 2004 Philippine general election, 2004 The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 10, 2004. The major coalitions that participated are the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan composed of parties that support the candidacy of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino ,... |
852,473 | 6.70% | 3 |
| 2007 Philippine House of Representatives elections, 2007 The 2007 Philippine House of Representatives elections were held on May 14, 2007, to elect members to the House of Representatives of the Philippines to serve in the 14th Congress of the Philippines from June 30, 2007, until June 30, 2010... |
466,112 | 2.92% | 2 |
| 2010 Philippine House of Representatives elections, 2010 The 2010 Philippine House of Representatives elections were held on May 10, 2010 to elect members to the House of Representatives of the Philippines to serve in the 15th Congress of the Philippines from June 30, 2010 to June 30, 2013... |
1,058,691 | 3.50% | 2 |
Representatives to Congress
| Period | 1st Representative | 2nd Representative | 3rd Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
11th Congress of the Philippines The Eleventh Congress of the Philippines is the meeting of the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives... 1998–2001 |
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12th Congress of the Philippines The Twelfth Congress of the Philippines was the national Lower House of the legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Senate of the Philippines and House of Representatives of the Philippines... 2001–2004 |
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13th Congress of the Philippines The Thirteenth Congress of the Philippines was the meeting of the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives... 2004–2007 |
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14th Congress of the Philippines The Fourteenth Congress of the Philippines was the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives... 2007–2010 |
Walden Bello Walden Bello is a Filipino author, academic, and political analyst. He is a professor of sociology and public administration at the University of the Philippines Diliman, as well as executive director of Focus on the Global South... |
||
15th Congress of the Philippines The Fifteenth Congress of the Philippines is the current meeting of the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Senate and House of Representatives... 2010–2013 |
Walden Bello Walden Bello is a Filipino author, academic, and political analyst. He is a professor of sociology and public administration at the University of the Philippines Diliman, as well as executive director of Focus on the Global South... |
Kaka Bag-ao Arlene "Kaka" J. Bag-ao is a human rights lawyer and advocate, and the second representative of Akbayan Party in the 15th Congress of the Philippines.- Education :... |