A Metro Manila-centric Senate

The Philippine Senate is the most unique senate in the world because it is the only one where the senators are elected at large. This means all the 24 senators are elected on a national basis.

The Australian Senate consists of 76 senators, twelve from each of the six states and two from each of the mainland territories. The Mexican Senate is made up of 128 senators, two from each of the 31 states and two from the Federal District. The Nigerian Senate is composed of 109 senators. Nigeria is divided into 36 states which are each divided into 3 senatorial districts, with each selecting a senator.

In Russia, the upper house of the Federal Assembly is the equivalent to a senate. Each of the 83 federal subjects of Russia — consisting of 21 republics, 46 “oblasts,” nine “krais,” two federal cities, four autonomous “okrugs” and one autonomous “oblasts” – sends two senators to the council, for a total of 166 councillors.

The United States Senate is a legislative chamber in the bicameral legislature of the United States and together with the House Representatives makes up the US Congress. Each US state is represented by two senators regardless of population, who serve staggered six year terms. California, the most populous state with a population of 37, 253,000 has two senators. Wyoming, the least populated state with 563,00 also has two senators.

There are at least 54 countries in the world with a Senate, but most of them have limited powers. The US and the Philippines are two of very few countries where the senate has equal power with the lower house. However, the difference lies in the manner of electing the senators.

The Philippine Constitutional Commission of 1986 reinstated the Senate with a vote of 23 in favour and 22 against, or by a margin of only one vote. The senate is the body that is supposed to equalize the gap between national and local interests which the House of Representatives is supposed to represent.

However, the Philippines now has the 12th largest population in the world. It is becoming clearer that we cannot just look at national and local interests. It can be seen that there are now regional interests that are of primary concern to those living in specific regions.

For example, traffic congestion and overpopulation of buses on major highways like EDSA may be a primary concern to those in the Metro Manila region. But to those in the Caraga Region (the two Agusan and two Surigao provinces), the lack of buses may be the bigger concern.

The state of the sugar industry may not be of any importance to those in the Cordillera or Bikol regions, but it is a very big concern to those in Western Visayas.

I believe that it is also the overconcentration of media on issues that are Metro Manila-centric that has caused this imbalance of attention by our politicians. It is also the result of political mathematics. Out of the country’s 14 regions, three regions – Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon – have more than a third of the population. This so-called “corridor” of political power is the determining factor in any major national election.

If one examines the background of the members of the incoming Senate, the results can be startling. Of course, most of them will claim heritage with several regions. However, based on their residential addresses and where they grew up, the majority of senators are from the same three regions that compose the corridor of power.

Ten senators are from Metro Manila, namely Jinggoy Estrada, JV Ejercito-Estrada, Nancy Binay, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Grace Poe, Tito Sotto, Antonio Trillanes and Cynthia Villar.

Three senators are from Central Luzon, namely Lito Lapid, Bam Aquino and Sonny Angara.

Two senators are from Bicol, Chiz Escudero and Gringo Honasan, one from Ilocos, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., and one from Cagayan Valley, Juan Ponce Enrile.

Western Visayas has two senators, Frank Drilon and Miriam Defensor Santiago, and Central Visayas has one, Sergio Osmena III. Northern Mindanao has two senators, Koko Pimentel and Tito Guingona III.

There are 19 senators, or close to 80%, from Luzon which has 48% of the total population. On the other hand, only three senators are from the Visayas which has 28% of total population, and only two senators from Mindanao which has 24% of total population. Also, 8 out of the 14 regions in the Philippines do not have any representative in the Senate.

In the senatorial elections before the Marcos martial law regime, senatorial tickets were elected at large but candidates were chosen according to region. For example, in the 1953 elections the Nacionalista ticket was composed of Ramon Magsaysay (Luzon) for president and Fernando Lopez (Visayas) for vice president. Their eight senatorial candidates were Eulogio Rodriguez (MetroManila), Lorenzo Tañada (Southern Tagalog), Edmundo Cea (Bicol), Mariano Cuenco (Central Visayas), Alejo Mabanag ( Ilocos region), Ruperto Kangleon (Eastern Visayas) and Emmanuel Pelaez ( Mindanao).

Perhaps the incoming Senate leadership should look at the possibility of forming regional committees and explore possible legislation that would address specific regional concerns. One initial step would be for the senators to go outside Metro Manila and hold regional hearings. The incoming Senate President comes from outside the three politically dominant regions and would, hopefully, be receptive to these proposals.

While I accept that the primary concern of the Senate is national interest, there should also be a reminder to our legislators that there are regional concerns which must be addressed. This is the essence of representative democracy, that the legislature should be an accountable and representative body.  

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