Various organizations of women, children, LGBTQ+, and supporters of Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP) celebrated its proclamation on September 17 as the 64th partylist for the 20th congress.

Sarah Jane Elago received the certificate of proclamation as the party’s first nominee. Joining her in the activity are former GWP representative Emmi De Jesus, and the party’s lawyer Atty. Lisa Clemente.

GWP’s inclusion among the winning partylist groups in the House of Representatives comes from the unified decision of COMELEC to increase the number of partylist representatives from 63 to 64, aligned with the requirement that 20% of congressional members must come from partylist groups, as stipulated in the Party-list System Act (RA 7941).

The party expressed gratitude to those who trusted and supported them. “This victory is the result of women’s tireless assertion for a militant and patriotic voice in congress,” it stated.

The party promised to consistently carry the “Women’s Agenda” into congress and to focus on the urgent needs of the people, such as lowering the prices of goods and raising workers’ wages.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to advancing laws for the welfare of women, workers, and oppressed sectors, such as the Expanded VAWC Bill, Divorce Bill, Wage Increase Bill, SOGIE Equality Bill, Repeal Rice Liberalization Law, Amendments to the Anti-Rape Law, Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill, Amendments to Philhealth, and the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill.

With its return to congress, GWP assured to hold corrupt and abusive individuals accountable.

“We will demand the services that have long been denied to us. Contractors and their political backers must also be held responsible for the contracts that have denuded our mountains, which has worsened flooding in our communities,” Elago declared.