. , 
.ihn,'ttI' 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
tOff,;, IIf 1I1,.)i>mtlnrQ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
AUG 29 P5 :14 
SENA1'~49 
s, No,--,=-__ 
RECF!\'fO BV:f-
I 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
4. 
EXPLANA TORY NOTE 
The purpose of Republic Act No, 7941, otherwise known as the "Party-List System Act," 
is to "enable Filipino citizens belonging to marginalized and underrepresented sectors, 
organizations and parties" who lack well-defined political constituencies, "but who could 
contribute to the formulation and enactment of appropriate legislation that will benefit the nation, 
as a whole," to become members of the I-louse of Representatives, Women comprising 
approximately half of the population in this country are among those who are marginalized and 
unden·epresented. 
As the State recognizes the role of women in nation building, it is therefore necessary that 
women be given equal rights and 0ppOliunities for political representation, articulation, and 
action. 
Presently, the State of women's political representation needs to be advanced. This can be 
achieved by instituting structures and mechanisms whereby their political representation and 
involvement is assured. In this light, this bill seeks to institute a scheme in the Party List System 
that will increase the chances for political representation of women, It provides that at least forty 
percent (40%) of the five nominees per registered organization be women; and that at least one 
of the first three positions be occupied by a woman nominee.' 
• This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
1 


1 
2 
3 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENf~49 
S.No. ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Sautiago 
AN ACT 
'sclwh 
(~ill" "f II" " Hr''''. 
'13 
AUG 29 P5 :14 
RlX'EIVEf) HY:-f,-
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7941, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PARTY-LIST SYSTEM ACT" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
4 
SECTION 1. Section 8 of Republic Act No. 7941, otherwise known as the "Party-List 
5 
System Act," is hereby amended to read as follows: 
6 
"Section 8. Nomination of Party List Representatives. - Each registered 
7 
party, organization or coalition shall submit to the COMELEC uot later than 
8 
forty-five (45) days before the election a list of names, not less than five (5), AT 
9 
LEAST FORTY PERCENT (40%) OF WHICH MUST BE WOMEN, from 
10 
which party representatives shall be chosen in case it obtains the required number 
11 
of votes!.I; 
PROVIDED, 
THAT 
EACH 
REGISTERED 
PARTY, 
12 
ORGANIZATION, OR COALITION, BEFORE SUBMITTING THE LIST 
13 
TO 
THE 
COMELEC, 
NOMINATED 
AMONG 
THEMSELVES, 
14 
REPRESENTATIVES OF AN EVEN NUMBER, FIFTY PERCENT (50%) 
15 
OF WHICH ARE WOMEN; PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT THE FINAL 
16 
FIVE REPRESENTATIVES SHALL CONSIST OF TWO MEN AND TWO 
17 
WOMEN CHOSEN BY THE REGISTERED PARTY, ORGANIZATION, 
18 
OR COALITION, WITH THE LAST REPRESENTATIVE CHOSEN BY 
19 
DRAWING LOTS AMONG THE REMAINING NOMINEES; PHOVIDED, 
20 
FINALLY, 
THAT 
THE 
RANKING 
OF 
THE 
FINAL 
FIVE 
21 
REPRESENTATIVES BE DONE BY DRAWING LOTS, WITH AT LEAST 
1 


· :' 
1 
ONE OF THE FIRST THREE POSITIONS TO BE OCCUPIED BY A 
2 
WOMAN NOMINEE. 
3 
A person may be nominated in one (1) list only. Only persons who have 
4 
given their consent in writing may be named in the list. The list shall not include 
5 
any candidate for any elective position who has lost his bid for an elective office 
6 
in the immediately preceding election. No change of names or alteration of the 
7 
order of nominees shall be allowed after the same shall have been submitted to the 
8 
COMELEC except in cases where the nominee dies, or withdraws in writing his 
9 
nomination, or becomes incapacitated in which case the name of the substitute 
10 
nominee shall be placed in the list. Incumbent sectoral representatives in the 
11 
House of Representative who are nominated in the party-list system shall not be 
12 
considered resigned.'~ 
13 
SECTION 2. Separability Clause. - If any provision is held invalid or unconstitutional, 
14 
the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and 
15 
subsisting. 
16 
SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
17 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
18 
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
19 
SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
20 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
2