Out of 1,652 Cebuano candidates who filed their certificate of candidacy (COC) last October, only 292 of them are women. | CDN Digital Graphics by Morexette Marie B. Erram
CEBU CITY, Philippines – This May, the fight for the top position in Cebu will be one for the books in the history of the Central Visayas region.
For the first time, it’s going to be a gubernatorial showdown between two female aspirants.
Cebu Third District Representative and former Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is seeking a comeback in the Capitol, and her opponent is no other than Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale.
Both Garcia and Magpale are well-experienced in politics — both having served in public office for decades, and both have not been defeated in the elections.
READ MORE: IT’S AGNES VS GWEN – Cebu Daily News – Inquirer.net
But beyond the local political scene, there is a new rule to determine the dominant majority and minority parties for the upcoming May 2019 midterm elections, and it involves taking women representation seriously.
Last March, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) set a new criterion for determining the dominant majority and minority parties.
They amended Comelec Resolution No. 10514 to highlight the importance of women in politics by giving additional credits to parties who will be able to field women candidates at 30 percent.
“The new set of rules and regulations provides for incentives to be given to political parties that promote the integration of women in their leadership hierarchy, internal policy-making structures, appointive and electoral nominating processes,” Comelec said in a statement.
An additional 10 points will be credited to parties who will be able to comply with this new rule.
Political map of Cebu | STOCK PHOTO
READ MORE: Comelec sets new rules in determining dominant parties
Declared dominant majority and minority parties are entitled to “get the fifth and sixth copies of election returns (ERs),” respectively, to be produced by the vote counting machines; receive electronically-transmitted precinct results; get the seventh and eighth copies of the Certificates of Canvass, respectively; and assign official watchers in every polling place and canvassing center.”
READ MORE: Dominant Parties
Most women candidates are vying for positions in the legislative department of Cebu’s local government units. | CDN Digital Graphics by Morexette Marie B. Erram
Positions
CDN Digital has compiled the names of women running for local positions in Cebu, based from the official list of candidates Comelec published on their official website.
The list showed that out of 1,652 Cebuano candidates, who will be running for various local positions — from councilors to district representatives in Congress, only 292 of them are women.
This meant that the percentage of women candidates fielded for local positions in Cebu is at 17.68 percent only. Most women candidates are vying for positions in the legislative department of Cebu’s local government units.
The list also showed that out of the 292 women candidates, 223 of them are running for councilors, six for the Provincial Board, one for vice governor, and seven for seats at the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, in the executive department, 27 women candidates are running for vice mayor — both in cities and towns, 26 for mayor, one for vice governor, and two for governors.
All towns and cities in Cebu have women candidates for the May 2019 elections.
Furthermore, Comelec’s official list of candidates showed that Lapu-Lapu City has the most number of women candidates in Cebu — at 13. They were followed by the towns of Bantayan, Moalboal, and Santander with each having 10 female candidates running for local positions.
Alegria, Ginatilan, and Malabuyoc each has nine women candidates; Naga and Toledo Cities, Oslob, and Ronda — 8; Bogo City, Argao, Carmen, Compostela, Pinamungajan, and San Fernando — 7; Cebu City, Sibonga, Tabogon, Tabuelan — 6; Mandaue and Talisay Cities, Badian, Catmon, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Poro, San Francisco, Santa Fe, and Tuburan — 5; Danao City, Asturias, Balamban, Barili, Cordova, Liloan, Minglanilla, Pilar, and Sogod — 4; Aloguinsan, Consolacion, Dumanjug, Tudela — 3; and Alcantara, Boljoon, and Medellin — 2. Carcar City, and the towns of Alcoy, Dalaguete, and Samboan, on the other hand, only has a woman candidate.
Political Affiliations
The ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipinas – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP – Laban) fielded roughly a total of 111 women candidates in Cebu, including those affiliated with the Garcia-led One Cebu party, and the National Unity Party (NUP).
Based on Comelec’s official list of candidates for Cebu, 66 women candidates are identified with PDP – Laban while 28 are from One Cebu, and 17 from NUP. Both One Cebu and NUP are allied with PDP – Laban. This makes PDP – Laban the party with the most number of women candidates in Cebu.
The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) came next. There are 90 women candidates in Cebu who are running under NPC, including their allies from the Durano-led Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud).
Comelec’s official list of candidates of Cebu showed that 70 women candidates are running under NPC while 20 from Bakud.
The list also showed that 77 women candidates have identified themselves as independent aspirants, or those without any political affiliation from national parties.
Meanwhile, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas each fielded five women candidates in Cebu; Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino – four; Nacionalista Party — three; and Lakas- Christian Muslim Democrats — two; the Labor Party Philippines, Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan — Democratic Party of the Philippines, Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas each fielded one woman candidate in Cebu. /dbs