THE Commission on Elections has declared Abante Mindanao (Abamin) Party-list as one of the winners in the 2025 midterm elections.
Abamin secured 38th place among 155 party-list groups and gained one seat in the House of Representatives with a total of 320,349 votes.
Abamin founder and Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez emphasized the need for increased representation for Mindanao in Congress.
He noted that only five of the 63 party-list groups in the 19th Congress are from Mindanao, despite the region deserving around 12 seats.
Rodriguez highlighted that in 2025, Mindanao received 14.5% of the national budget, despite comprising 22% of the population and significantly contributing to the economy.
Meanwhile, Luzon received 36% of the budget, plus an additional 9% allocated for central offices in the region.
He pointed out that Mindanao’s poverty rate stands at 24.8%, compared to Luzon’s 9.8%.
Abamin aims to advocate for a larger share of the budget for Mindanao.
Rep. Maxie Rodriguez said that Abamin will push for increased funding for programs such as scholarships, medical aid, livelihood support, and infrastructure development.
He added that the party-list’s victory reflects the sectors it represents and the people of Mindanao.
Abamin advocates for indigenous peoples, laborers, senior citizens, urban poor, informal settlers, overseas Filipino workers, and farmers, working to amplify Mindanao’s voice and promote equitable development in the region.
