100 party-list groups seeking Comelec accreditation

The number of party-list groups seeking accreditation with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the May 10, 2010 elections has climbed to 100. Comelec chairman Jose Melo said Thursday they expect this number to further increase, especially next month since they already set the deadline for the filing of the party-list accreditation on August 17. Joining the election for party-list organization is trade union Federation of Free Workers (FFW), which filed Thursday its accreditation. Allan Montano, FFW national president, said “as a primary economic driving force, there is a real need for lowly workers to be represented and their voices be heard in Congress." Montano said FFW registered with the COMELEC under the name “Free Workers," which will be known by the same acronym, FFW. Montano said their main platform of government will be the promotion of decent work. He said “the labor sector has not been truly represented in Congress these days." “We, therefore, need representatives that have the capacity and would genuinely represent the interest of workers in the legislature," Montaño added. “This role can best be served by the FFW representatives in Congress once given the mandate." FFW has been in existence since 1950. It was officially registered and issued a certificate of registration by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on November 19, 1956. It is also part of the Philippine Tripartite Delegation to the International Labor Conference of the International Labor Organization (ILO) held each year in the month of June in Geneva, Switzerland. In the last May 2007 polls, at least two labor groups - Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and the Bayan Muna - were able to secure seats in the House of Representatives. Melo said the Comelec would be strict in the accreditation of party-list organization and will ensure that the groups that will be allowed to join the elections are truly representing the marginalized and underprivileged sectors of the society. More than 150 party-list groups filed for accreditation with the Comelec in the 2007 mid-term polls but only 44 were accredited. For next year's elections, Melo said it is possible that the number would be exceeded because “there’s a lot of interest in this coming elections." - GMANews.TV