Kabataan Partylist

The Party-list system was introduced in the 1987 Constitution to give representation to marginalized and underrepresented sectors in Congress. It was formulated to foster ‘political pluralism’ in a Congress dominated by traditional parties and political dynasties, and to further encourage participation in the formulation or enactment of appropriate legislation that will benefit the nation as a whole.

Basis for Party-list representation

The 1987 Constitution is replete with provisions that emphasize the state’s responsibility to encourage the formation of independent people’s organizations, non-government associations and party-list groups.

“The State shall encourage non-governmental, community-based, or sectoral organizations that promote the welfare of the nation.” – Article 2, Section 23

“The House of Representatives shall be composed of not more than two hundred and fifty members, unless otherwise fixed by law, who shall be elected from legislative districts XXX and those who, as provided by law, shall be elected through a party-list system of registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations (1);”

“The party-list system shall constitute twenty percentum of the total number of representatives including those under the party-list (2).” – Article 5, Section 5

“The State shall respect the role of independent people’s organizations to enable the people to pursue and protect, within the democratic framework, their legitimate and collective interests and aspirations through peaceful and lawful means.” – Article 18, Section 15

“The right of the people and their organizations to effective and reasonable participation at all levels of social, political, and economic decision-making shall not be abridged.” Article 18, Section 16

However, it was only during the Ramos administration that a law on party-list representation was enacted. Republic Act 7941 or the Party-list System Act was signed into law on March 3, 1995 and now serves as the enabling law for party-list system and elections.

Basic features of the Philippine Party-list system

1. It is a Proportional Representation type of electoral system

Under Proportional Representation, the number of votes corresponds to the number of seats to which a party is entitled.

2. Two-percent threshold

Under Section 11 (b) of RA 7941, “parties, organizations, and coalitions receiving at least two percent (2%) of the total votes cast for the party-list system shall be entitled to one seat each: Provided, That those garnering more than two percent (2%) of the votes shall be entitled to additional seats in proportion to their total number of votes.”

3. Three-seat cap

The said provision, however, comes with a qualifier: “Provided, finally, That each party, organization, or coalition shall be entitled to not more than three (3) seats.”

4. Closed List system

In a Closed List system, the electorate votes for the name of the party or organization and not the nominee or representative of the party.

Limitations of the Party-list system

From these basic features come the major criticism/limitations of the Party-list system:

a. With the three-seat cap, votes exceeding the six percent ceiling will already be considered “wasted votes.”

b. The two-percent threshold requirement serves as the biggest hindrance for party-list organizations to actually clinch a seat in Congress:

• Aside from the fact that genuine (emphasis given) party-list organizations are themselves marginalized and only have meager resources, accredited party-list groups all have to contend for every vote as the voters only get to write ONE party-list group on their ballot. Rough estimates peg the two-percent threshold at 300,000 votes for this upcoming elections.

• Low public awareness on the party-list makes it more difficult for party-list groups to garner enough number of votes to satisfy the minimum requirement for a seat in Congress.

In the 2004 elections:
- 54 percent of Filipino don’t know the party-list system
- Only 12.7 million out of 43.23 million registered voters voted for party-list or 29.5 percent
- Only 24 of the 53 seats for partylist representatives were occupied

• Given this kind of situation, it’s virtually impossible for even half of all accredited party-list to win at least one seat in Congress. Out of the 123 accredited party-list groups which participated in the 1998 elections, only 10 won seats in Congress; 20 (out of 162) in 2001, and; only 16 (out of 66) in the last elections

Who can participate in the Party-list race?

National political parties, regional and sectoral organizations representing marginalized or underrepresented sectors and with established national constituency may participate in the party-list system and elections, except for those stipulated under Section 6 of RA 7941:

(1) It is a religious sect or denomination, organization or association, organized for religious purposes;
(2) It advocates violence or unlawful means to seek its goal;
(3) It is a foreign party or organization;
(4) It is receiving support from any foreign government, foreign political party, foundation, organization, whether directly or through any of its officers or members or indirectly through third parties for partisan election purposes;
(5) It violates or fails to comply with laws, rules or regulations relating to elections;
(6) It declares untruthful statements in its petition;
(7) It has ceased to exist for at least one (1) year; or
(8) It fails to participate in the last two (2) preceding elections or fails to obtain at least two per centum (2%) of the votes cast under the party-list system in the two (2) preceding elections for the constituency in which it has registered.

Accredited Party-lists for the 2007 elections

1. 1-UTAK
2. AA-KASOSYO
3. AT
4. ABAKADA
5. ABANSE! PINAY
6. ABA ILONGGO
7. ABONO
8. ADD-TRIBAL
9. ADD
10. A TEACHER
11. ASAHAN MO
12. AGBIAG!
13. AGING PINOY
14. AGAP
15. AHON
16. AHONBAYAN
17. APOI
18. AKBAYAN
19. AKSA
20. ALAGAD
21. ABAY PARAK
22. ABC
23. ANAD
24. AAWAS
25. ANC
26. APO
27. ARC
28. VENDORS
29. AVE
30. ATS
31. ALMANA
32. AKAPIN
33. AGHAM
34. ASAP
35. ABA-AKO
36. AN WARAY
37. AMIN
38. ANAKPAWIS
39. BANDILA
40. AG
41. ALIF
42. A SMILE
43. AANGAT KA PILIPINO
44. ANAK
45. ABS
46. AMANG
47. ASSALAM
48. AAPS
49. APEC
50. BABAE KA
51. BAGOI
52. BATAS
53. BTM
54. BAHANDI
55. BANAT
56. BAYAN MUNA
57. BIGKIS
58. BP
59. BIYAYANG BUKID
60. BUHAY
61. CIBAC
62. SENIOR CITIZENS
63. COCOFED
64. GRECON
65. COOP-NATCCO
66. DIWA
67. GABRIELA
68. HAPI
69. KABATAAN
70. BUKLOD FILIPINA
71. KALAHI
72. KAKUSA
73. ANG KASANGGA
74. KASAPI
75. BUTIL
76. NELFFI
77. PM
78. PMAP
79. PBA
80. SM
81. SANLAKAS
82. SPI
83. SUARA
84. SB
85. BANTAY
86. TUCP
87. UMDJ
88. UNI-MAD
89. VFP
90. YACAP
91. LYPAD