Ang Probinsyano sought representation for the first time when it ran in the 2019 mid-term elections.[2] The partylist group seeks to represent the concerns of those residing in therural areas of the Philippines. Its campaign was supported by Coco Martin and Yassi Pressman. The two were known for their acting roles in the ABS-CBN television series Ang Probinsyano which shares the name with the partylist group.[3]
Angelo Palmones former representative of AGHAM Partylist made a bid for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to stop the proclamation of Ang Probinsyano on the grounds that it allegedly took undue advantage of naming themselves after Ang Probinsyano for name recall. Palmones argues that this gave the partylist, 1,210 minutes of indirect exposure from February 12 until April 5 (from the official start of the campaign season to the date when Palmones' petition was filed) and also took note the endorsement of two of the series' lead actors. The Section 9 of Comelec Resolution 10488 limits campaign advertisements for national candidates to 120 minutes for television which Palmones argues the partylist and ABS-CBN violated.[4]
Ang Probinsyano was among the 51 winning partylist groups proclaimed by the Comelec. It secured 2 seats in the House of Representatives.[5]
Also known as "Apid", Alfred Delos Santos is the first representative of the party-list to the 18th Congress. He was born on December 18, 1991, in Legazpi. He finished his bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Major in Financial Management in University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi (formerly known as Aquinas University of Legazpi). He is affiliated with Road Engineering Association of Asia & Australasia (REAAA) where he is an active member since 2015 and as a member of the Kiwanis Club Philippines since 2013.
Rep. Ronnie Ong is the second representative of the party-list to the 18th Congress. He was born on November 2, 1970, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design from De La Salle University in 1995. At the 18th Congress, he is currently vice-chairperson of the House Committees on Rural Development, Foreign Affairs, Tourism, and Games and Amusement, while also serving as Member to the House Committees on Appropriations, Ways and Means, Bicol Recovery and Economic Development, Economic Affairs, and Information and Communications Technology. He is an advocate for legislation and programs centering on labor and employment, fair trade, access to education, rights of children, especially foundlings, overseas workers, senior citizens, and persons with disability (PWDs), as well as animal welfare in the country.
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Skills Training (Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), Special Training for Employment Program (STEP), and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) Self-Employment Assistance Kaunlaran (SEA-K) re-launch
Aside from legislative agenda, the Party-List endeavors itself with other programs such as the following:[citation needed]
KalingAng Probinsyano (Medical Assistance)
Ginhawang Probinsya (Relief Packs)
PROvincial scholars Management and Development Initiative (PROMDI) (Educational Assistance)
TESDA Educational Assistance Movement in the Province (T.E.A.M. Probinsya) (TESDA Scholarship)
Kaakbay sa Huling Paalam (Burial Assistance)
Apart from the regular outreach and assistance programs, in light of the COVID-19 situation, the Party-List has also engaged in special programs such as distribution of PPE and other essential materials (AlagAng Probinsyano), transportation assistance of OFWs back to their provinces, after the mandatory quarantine (Hatid Probinsyano), and #LibrengSakay UV express van program, which provided home-to-hospital roundtrip service to hundreds of healthcare workers and front liners, and kept UV Express van drivers/operators gainfully employed during ECQ.[citation needed]
