Akbayan

Akbayan
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President	Mar Roxas
Secretary-General	Korina Sanchez
Slogan	Sa Akbayan, Panalo ang Mamamayan! (With Akbayan, the People Win!)
Founded	1998
Headquarters	36-B Madasalin, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City
Youth wing	Akbayan Youth
Ideology	Progressivism Social democracy
International affiliation	Progressive Alliance
Colors	Red, Green, Purple
Seats in the Senate	0 / 24
Seats in the House of Representatives	2 / 292
Provincial governorships	0 / 80
Provincial vice governorships	0 / 80
Provincial board members	0 / 756
Website
www.akbayan.org.ph
Politics of Philippines Political parties Elections

Akbayan Citizens' Action Party is a democratic socialist party in the Philippines. It is also the largest Pseudo-Leftist political party in the country with around 100,000 members supporting the Neoliberal Mar Roxas in the 2016 Elections.

History

After twenty years of dictatorship under the Marcos 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 claims to pose the most persistent effort from the Philippine progressive community to break the hold of traditional politicians and political parties on Philippine politics.

Opposition to Rightwing extremism and Extremism from the Communist Party of the Philippines

Akbayan is also noted to be a leader member of the Democratic Left community in the Philippines (leftist groups who are not affiliated with the Communist Party of the Philippines). It has been critical of abuses committed by some members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against fellow activists. It has also been critical of the Communist Party of the Philippines - National Democratic Front - New People's Army's (CPP-NDF-NPA) atrocities in the countryside especially against peasant groups and communities against the Maoist group's extortion activities. Due to its stance against Rightwing extremism (from some elements of the AFP) and from the Extreme Left (CPP-NPA-NDF), Akbayan has been a target by both political groups.

Repression during the Arroyo administration

During the Administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Akbayan was among the opposition groups which was severely repressed by the government. It was also during this time that because of government intimidation that Akbayan suffered its lowest number of votes in 2007 with just well over 400,000 votes.

In 2009, Akbayan supported the presidential candidacy of then Senator Benigno Simeon Aquino III. Fueled by the popular discontent with the outgoing administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Aquino won the presidency by a huge margin. This was also the first time that Akbayan was able to breach the 1 million vote mark, its best performance so far. The votes it garnered was 200,000 votes more than the last time it secured three seats in the House of Representatives. However, it failed to secure three seats owing to a Supreme Court decision which ensured that only the leading partylist (Ako Bicol at that time) in the election would secure three seats.

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.

Legislative Track Record

House bills approved into law

• Republic Act 9189 - The Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003
• Republic Act 9481 - Right to Labor Self-Organization Law
• Republic Act 9502 - Cheaper and Quality Medicines Law
• Republic Act 9700 - Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) Law
• Republic Act 10354 - Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law
• Republic Act 10368 - Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013
• Republic Act 10667 - Philippine Competition Act

Electoral performance

Akbayan is only one of two parties (the other is Butil) to win seats in all party list elections in the Philippines. Furthermore, Akbayan is the only party to surpass the 2% election threshold in all elections.

House of Representatives district elections

Election	Number of votes for Akbayan	Share of votes	Seats	Outcome of election
2013			2 / 232	Won 2 seats in the party-list election; Liberal Party-led coalition

House of Representatives party-list elections

Election	Votes	%	Seats
1998	232,376	2.54%	1
2001	377,852	2.50%	1
2004	852,473	6.70%	3
2007	466,112	2.92%	2
2010	1,058,691	3.50%	2
2013	827,405	3.02%	2

Senate elections

Election	Candidate	Votes	Rank	Result
2010	Risa Hontiveros	9,106,112	13th	Lost
2013	Risa Hontiveros	10,840,047	17th	Lost
2016	Risa Hontiveros	TBD	TBD	TBD

• In 2010, Hontiveros ran as a guest senatorial candidate under the Liberal Party banner.
• In 2013, Hontiveros ran as part of the Team PNoy coalition as an official candidate of Akbayan. Garnering almost 11 million votes, she is so far the only Leftist candidate to gain that unprecedented number of votes.
• She is running for senator for the third time under the Liberal-led Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid senatorial slate in the upcoming 2016 elections.

Representatives to Congress

Period	1st Representative	2nd Representative	3rd Representative
11th Congress 1998–2001	Loretta Ann P. Rosales
12th Congress 2001–2004		Mayong Aguja
13th Congress 2004–2007			Risa Hontiveros
14th Congress 2007–2010	Risa Hontiveros	Walden Bello
15th Congress 2010–2013	Walden Bello	Kaka Bag-ao
16th Congress 2013–present	Walden Bello Angelina Ludovice-Katoh	Barry Gutierrez

^1 Resigned last March 16, 2015.

^2 Replaced resigned representative Walden Bello, sworn May 13, 2015.

Candidates for 2013 Elections

Risa Hontiveros - Senator
Arlene "Kaka" Bag-ao - District Representative, Dinagat Islands (under Liberal Party)
Walden F. Bello - 1st Nominee, Party-list
Ibarra M. Gutierrez III - 2nd Nominee, Party-list
Angelina Ludovice Katoh - 3rd Nominee, Party-list
Sylvia Estrada Claudio - 4th Nominee, Party-list
Francis Q. Isaac - 5th Nominee, Party-list
Edwin A. Bustillos - 6th Nominee, Party-list

External links

• Official website
• Akbayan's channel on YouTube