Amending Sec. 3 of R. a. No. 7941 (Party-list System Act)

Senate Office of the Seemarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) FEB 25 P3:45 ) First Regular Session RECEIVED BY SENATE S. No. 190*7 Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN AN ACT TO ENSURE GENUINE REPRESENTATION OF MARGINALIZED AND UNDERREPRESENTED SECTORS IN THE PARTY-LIST SYSTEM, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7941 OR THE "PARTY-LIST SYSTEM ACT" EXPLANATORY NOTE Article VI, Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution established the party-list system as a mechanism of proportional representation to provide meaningful access to the House of Representatives for marginalized and underrepresented sectors. It was designed to broaden political participation and strengthen representative pluralism within the legislative process. Republic Act No. 7941 implemented this constitutional mandate. Jurisprudence has consistently recognized the party list system as a mechanism for social justice and representative pluralism. In Ang Bagong Bayani-OFW Labor Party vs. COMELEC, G.R Nos. 147589 & 147613, the Supreme Court emphasized its purpose of advancing marginalized and underrepresented sectors. Subsequent decisions, including Atong Paglaum vs. COMELEC, G.R. No. 203766, clarified the scope of participation while affirming that Congress retains the authority to enact legislation consistent with its constitutional design. Over time, developments in interpretation and experience in implementation have shaped the operation of the system and highlighted areas where legislative clarification may be beneficial, particularly with respect to standards of sectoral representation, safeguards against conflicts of interest, voter clarity, and accountability mechanisms for incumbent party-list representatives. This bill strengthens the statutory framework of the party-list system to align its implementation with its constitutional purpose of sectoral representation.

Specifically, it: • Clarifies participation standards by refining the definitions of national, regional, sectoral, and multi-sectoral party-list organizations, and by setting clear parameters for the participation of major political parties and their sectoral wings. • Raises the evidentiary threshold for sectoral registration by requiring sectoral and multi-sectoral organizations to prove, through a public evidentiary hearing before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), that they genuinely represent marginalized and underrepresented sectors and that their nominees authentically belong to or advocate for such sectors. • Improves proportional representation mechanics by standardizing procedural requirements and defining a clear winning minimum percentage threshold for seat allocation. • Strengthens accountability mechanisms by establishing "manifest failure to represent" as grounds for cancellation when an incumbent organization fails to substantially advance the interests of its claimed sector. Introduces structural safeguards against conflicts of interest and political concentration by disqualifying nominees who are closely related to incumbent high-ranking public officials and those with direct or indirect government contracting interests, subject to limited exceptions. Promotes electoral clarity and informed participation by prohibiting misleading names or emblems that create a false impression of government affiliation and by institutionalizing continuing voter education. By clarifying participation standards and reinforcing structural safeguards, this measure strengthens the institutional safeguards necessary to maintain the integrity and constitutional orientation of the party-list system. It represents a legislative effort to ensure that proportional representation remains genuine, accountable, and faithful to its foundational objectives. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. FRANCIS N PANGILINAN 3KDD

Senate Office of the Sercitary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES FEB 25 P3:45 First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE S. No.. 1907 Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN AN ACT TO ENSURE GENUINE REPRESENTATION OF MARGINALIZED AND UNDERREPRESENTED SECTORS IN THE PARTY-LIST SYSTEM, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7941 OR THE "PARTY-LIST SYSTEM ACT" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION. 1. Section 3 of Republic Act 7941, otherwise known as the "Party-

List System Act," is hereby amended to read, as follows: "Section 3. Definition of Terms. (a) The party-list system is a mechanism of proportional representation in the election of representatives to the House of Representatives from national, regional and sectoral parties or organizations or coalitions OR SECTORAL WINGS OF MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES thereof registered with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Component parties or organizations of a coalition may participate independently provided the coalition of which they form part does not participate in the party-list system. (b) [A party means either a political party or a sectoral party or a coalition of parties.] A PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION IS A GROUP OF CITIZENS THAT IS DULY REGISTERED WITH THE COMELEC UNDER THIS ACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEKING REPRESENTATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THROUGH THE PARTY-LIST SYSTEM. (1) A NATIONAL PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION REFERS TO PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION WITH ]

MEMBERSHIP, ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, AND POLITICAL ADVOCACY THAT ARE NATIONAL IN SCOPE. (ii) A REGIONAL PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION REFERS TO A PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION WITH A MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE FROM AT LEAST A MAJORITY OF THE CITIES AND PROVINCES COMPRISING ONE REGION. iii) A SECTORAL PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION REFERS TO A PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION WITH ALL OF ITS MEMBERS BELONGING TO OR ADVOCATING FOR ANY OF THE SECTORS ENUMERATED IN SECTION 4 HEREOF. A SECTORAL WING OF A MAJOR POLITICAL PARTY MAY BE A SECTORAL PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION IF IT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS IN THIS PARAGRAPH AND HAS ITS OWN CONSTITUTION AND BY- LAWS, PLATFORM OR PROGRAM OF GOVERNMENT, AND SET OF OFFICERS. (iv) A MULTI-SECTORAL PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION REFERS TO A PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION WHOSE MEMBERS BELONG TO OR ADVOCATING FOR TWO OR MORE SECTORS ENUMERATED IN SECTION 4 HEREOF. (c) A political party refers to an organized group of citizens DULY REGISTERED WITH THE COMELEC advocating an ideology or platform, principles, and policies for the general conduct of government and which, as the most immediate means of securing their adoption, regularly nominates and supports certain of its leaders and members as candidates for public office. (i) It is a national POLITICAL party when its constituency is spread over the geographical territory of at least a majority of the regions. (ii) It is a regional POLITICAL party when its constituency is spread over the geographical territory of at least a majority of the cities and provinces comprising the region. (li) A MAJOR POLITICAL PARTY REFERS TO A DULY REGISTERED AND ACCREDITED POLITICAL PARTY OR COALITION OF PARTIES WHICH THE COMELEC, AFTER DUE NOTICE AND HEARING AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW, DETERMINES TO POSSESS NATIONAL CHARACTER AND SUBSTANTIAL POLITICAL STRENGTH. A POLITICAL PARTY THAT FIELDS CANDIDATES IN THE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT ELECTIONS IS A MAJOR POLITICAL PARTY.

(d) [A sectoral party refers to an organized group of citizens belonging to any of the sectors enumerated in Section 5 hereof whose principat advocacy pertains to the special interest and concerns of their sector.] AVAILABLE SEATS REFER TO THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF SEATS RESERVED FOR THE PARTY-LIST SYSTEM IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (e) [A sectoral organization refers to a group of citizens or a coalition of groups of citizens who share similar physical attributes OF characteristics, employment, interests or concerns.] THE WINNING MINIMUM PERCENTAGE THRESHOLD REFERS TO THE VALUE OF ONE HUNDRED PERCENT (100%) DIVIDED BY THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE SEATS. THIS VALUE SHALL BE EXPRESSED IN AT LEAST SIX (6) DECIMAL PLACES FOR ACCURACY. (f) [A coalition refers to an aggrupation of duly registered national, regional, sectoral parties or organizations for political and/or election purposes.] WINNING MINIMUM PERCENTAGE REFER TO REGISTERED PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATIONS THAT REACH THE WINNING MINIMUM PERCENTAGE THRESHOLD.

SEC. 2. Section 4 the said Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 4. Manifestation to Participate in the Party-List System. Any [party, organization, or coalition] PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION already registered with the [Commission] COMELEC UNDER THIS ACT need not register anew. However, such [party, organization, or coalition] PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION shall file with the [Commission] COMELEC, not later than [ninety (90)] ONE HUNDRED TWENTY (120) days before the election, a manifestation of its desire to participate in the party- list system.

SEC. 3. Section 5 of the said Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 5. Registration. Any organized group of [persons] CITIZENS may register as a [party, organization or coalition] PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION for purposes of the party-list system by filing with the COMELEC not later than [ninety (90) ONE HUNDRED TWENTY (120) days before the election, a petition verified by its president or secretary stating its [desire] INTENTION to participate in the party-list system [as a national, regional, or sectoral party or organization or a coalition of such parties or organizations], attaching thereto its constitution, by-laws, platform or program of government, list of officers, coalition agreement, and other relevant information as the COMELEC may require: Provided, That FOR SECTORAL OR MULTI-SECTORAL PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATIONS, the sectors shall include labor, peasant, fisherfolk, urban poor, indigenous [cultural communities] PEOPLES, elderly, [handicapped] PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES,, women, youth, LGBTQIA+ (LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, INTERSEX,

ASEXUAL, AND OTHER IDENTITIES), veterans, overseas workers, [and] OR professionals, INCLUDING THEIR SUBSECTORS. The COMELEC shall publish the petition in its official website and at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. NO GROUP OR ORGANIZATION, OR POLITICAL PARTY SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR REGISTRATION AS A SECTORAL OR MULTI-SECTORAL PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION UNLESS IT HAS PROVEN IN AN EVIDENTIARY PUBLIC HEARING THAT SHALL BE CONDUCTED BY THE COMELEC THAT IT TRULY REPRESENTS MARGINALIZED AND UNDERREPRESENTED SECTOR/S AND ITS NOMINEES BELONG TO OR ADVOCATING THE SECTOR/S THEY SEEK TO REPRESENT: PROVIDED, THAT COMELEC SHALL NOTIFY ALL DULY REGISTERED AND ACCREDITED PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATIONS OF THE HEARING AT LEAST TEN (10) DAYS PRIOR TO THE SAID HEARING. The COMELEC shall, after due notice and hearing, resolve the petition within fifteen (15) days from the date it was submitted for decision but in no case not later than ninety (90) days before election."

SEC. 4. Section 6 of the said Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 6. Refusal and/or Cancellation of Registration. The COMELEC may, motu proprio or upon verified complaint of any interested party, refuse or cancel, after due notice and hearing, the registration of any [national, regional or sectoral party, organization or coalition] PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION on any of the following grounds: XXX (4) It is receiving support from any foreign government, foreign political party, FOREIGN foundation, OR FOREIGN organization, whether directly or through any of its officers or members or indirectly through third parties for partisan election purposes; XXX (7) [it has ceased to exist for at least one (1) year; or] IT WAS DISSOLVED, ABSORBED, MERGED, OR HAS OTHERWISE CEASED TO EXIST; (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] A PARTY-LIST SEAT in the two (2) preceding elections [for the constituency in which it has registered.]; (9) IN CASES OF AN INCUMBENT PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION, IT MANIFESTLY FAILS TO REPRESENT ITS SECTOR/S OR CONSTITUENCY. "MANIFEST FAILURE TO REPRESENT" IS PRIMA FACIE ESTABLISHED WHEN, IN A TERM FOR WHICH THE ORGANIZATION IS ELECTED, ITS REPRESENTATIVE/S HAS/HAVE FAILED TO FILE AT LEAST 50% OF THEIR LEGISLATIVE OUTPUTS COMPRISING OF BILLS, RESOLUTIONS, AND PLENARY SPONSORSHIPS OR INTERPELLATIONS, THAT ARE

THEMATICALLY AND PREDOMINANTLY CONCERNING ISSUES OR MATTERS 2 THAT ARE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO THE CONCERNED 3 SECTOR/SECTORS AND CONSTITUENCY. FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE 4 COMELEC SHALL PROMULGATE RELEVANT RULES, INCLUDING 5 PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES ON PROVING "MANIFEST FAILURE TO REPRESENT" AND ON ILLUSTRATIVE ACTS SHOWING LEGISLATIVE 7 OUTPUTS THAT ARE THEMATICALLY AND PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO SPECIFIC SECTOR/S AND CONSTITUENCIES; OR (10) ITS NAME, SHORT NAME, ABBREVIATION OR ACRONYM, OR EMBLEM: A. IS PATTERNED AFTER, DERIVED FROM, OR CONFUSINGLY SIMILAR TO TITLES OF TELEVISION OR RADIO PROGRAMS THAT ARE EXISTING OR DEFUNCT AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION; B. IS IDENTICAL OR CONFUSINGLY SIMILAR TO THE NAMES OF EXISTING OR DEFUNCT GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE, SUBSIDY, WELFARE, DEVELOPMENT, OR OTHER PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, OR ACTIVITIES; C. IS IDENTICAL OR CONFUSINGLY SIMILAR TO THE NAMES OF EXISTING OR DEFUNCT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES; D. USES, REFERS TO, OR IS CONFUSINGLY SIMILAR TO THE NAMES, STAGE NAMES, INITIALS, IMAGES, LIKENESS, OR WELL-KNOWN MONICKERS OF LIVING OR DECEASED PUBLIC OFFICIALS, POLITICIANS, CELEBRITIES, ATHLETES, OR OTHER PUBLIC FIGURES; OR E. OTHERWISE CREATES A FALSE IMPRESSION OF ENDORSEMENT, AFFILIATION, OR CONNECTION WITH ANY GOVERNMENT PROGRAM OR PUBLIC FIGURE. ALL EXISTING REGISTERED PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATIONS WITH NAMES, SHORT NAMES, ABBREVIATIONS OR ACRONYMS, OR EMBLEMS THAT FALL WITHIN THE PROHIBITIONS UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE REQUIRED TO ADOPT AND REGISTER A COMPLIANT NAME, SHORT NAME, ABBREVIATION OR ACRONYM, OR EMBLEM WITH THE COMELEC WITHIN SIX (6) MONTHS FROM THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT."

SEC. 5. Section 7 of the said Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 7. Certified List of Registered Parties. The COMELEC shall, not later than Esixty (60)] NINETY (90) days before election, prepare a certified list of [national, regional, or sectoral parties, organizations, or coalitions] PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATIONS which have applied or who have manifested their [desire] INTENTION to participate under the party-list system and distribute copies thereof

to all precincts for posting in the polling places on election day. The names of the party-list nominees shall not be shown on the certified list. THE CERTIFIED LIST SHALL BE PUBLISHED IN A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK FOR TWO (2) CONSECUTIVE WEEKS NOT LATER THAN FORTY-FIVE (45) DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION."

SEC. 6. Section 8 of the said Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 8. Nomination of Party-List Representatives. Each registered [party, organization, or coalition] PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION shall submit to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) not later than [forty five (45)] SIXTY (60) days before the election a list of names, not less than [five (5)] TEN (10), from which party-list representatives shall be chosen in case it obtains the required number of votes. THE LIST OF NOMINEES TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE COMELEC MUST BE APPROVED BY THE HIGHEST DECISION-MAKING BODY OF THE PARTY- LIST ORGANIZATION. A person may be nominated in one (1) list only. Only persons who have given their consent in writing may be named in the list. The list shall not include any candidate for any elective office or person who has lost [his] THEIR bid for an elective office in the immediately preceding election, EXCLUDING BARANGAY ELECTIONS. No change of names or alteration of the order of the nominees shall be allowed after the same shall have been submitted to the COMELEC, except where the nominee dies, for withdraws in writing his nomination,] or becomes incapacitated, in which case the name of the substitute nominees shall be placed last in the list. Incumbent [sectoral] PARTY-LIST representatives in the House of Representatives who are nominated in the party-list system shall not be considered resigned.

SEC. 7. Section 9 of the said Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 9. Qualifications of Party-List Nominees. No person shall be nominated as party-list representative unless [he is] THEY ARE a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, a resident of the Philippines for a period of not less than one (1) year immediately preceding the day of the election, able to read and write, a bona fide member of the party or organization which {he] THEY seek[s] to represent for at least ninety (90) days preceding the day of [the election] THE FILING OF THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF NOMINATION, and is at least twenty-five (25) years of age on the day of the election. In case of a nominee of the youth sector, [he] THEY must at least be twenty-five (25) but not more than thirty (30) years of age on the day of the election. Any youth sectoral representative who attains the age of thirty (30) during [his) THEIR term shall be allowed to continue in office until the expiration of (his) THEIR term.

SECTION 9-A. PROHIBITION AGAINST POLITICAL DYNASTIES.

NO PERSON MAY BECOME OR SUBSTITUTE FOR A PARTY-LIST NOMINEE OR OTHERWISE BECOME A PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE IF THEY ARE: A. A SPOUSE OR A RELATIVE WITHIN THE FOURTH DEGREE OF CONSANGUINITY OR AFFINITY OF AN INCUMBENT PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, SENATOR, DISTRICT OR PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE, GOVERNOR, VICE GOVERNOR, MAYOR, OR VICE MAYOR; B. A SPOUSE OR RELATIVE WITHIN THE FOURTH DEGREE OF CONSANGUINITY OR AFFINITY OF A NOMINEE OF ANY PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION OR A CANDIDATE FOR ANY ELECTIVE PUBLIC OFFICE IN THE SAME ELECTION, EXCLUDING POSITIONS IN LOCAL COUNCILS AND BARANGAYS; OR C. SUCCEEDING TO THE OFFICE OF A PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE WHO IS THEIR SPOUSE OR RELATIVE WITHIN THE FOURTH DEGREE OF CONSANGUINITY OR AFFINITY.

SECTION 9-B. PROHIBITION AGAINST GOVERNMENT

CONTRACTORS. NO PARTY-LIST NOMINEE OR REPRESENTATIVE OR PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION SHALL, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY: A. HOLD CONTRACTS OR SUB-CONTRACTS TO SUPPLY THE GOVERNMENT OR ANY OF ITS DIVISIONS, SUBDIVISIONS, OR INSTRUMENTALITIES, WITH GOODS OR SERVICES OR TO PERFORM CONSTRUCTION OR OTHER WORKS; B. SERVE AS A PARTNER, DIRECTOR, OFFICER, MEMBER, OR STOCKHOLDER OF ANY CORPORATION, PARTNERSHIP, OR ENTITY THAT HOLDS ANY SUCH CONTRACT OR SUB- CONTRACT AS IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING PARAGRAPH; C. POSSESS ANY BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP, PECUNIARY INTEREST, OR FINANCIAL STAKE IN ANY SUCH CONTRACT OR SUB-CONTRACT AS IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS OR IN ANY PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION, OR ENTITY HOLDING SUCH CONTRACT OR SUB- CONTRACT; OR D. BE A SPOUSE OR A RELATIVE WITHIN THE SECOND DEGREE OF CONSANGUINITY OR AFFINITY OF A PARTNER, DIRECTOR, OFFICER, MEMBER, OR STOCKHOLDER OF ANY CORPORATION, PARTNERSHIP,

OR ENTITY THAT HOLDS ANY CONTRACT OR SUB- CONTRACT AS IN PARAGRAPH A OF SECTION 9-5: PROVIDED, THAT NON-STOCK, NON-PROFIT CORPORATIONS ARE EXCLUDED FROM THIS PROHIBITION.

SECTION 9-C. PETITION FOR DISQUALIFICATION OF PARTY-

LIST NOMINEE. THE COMMISSION MAY, MOTU PROPIO OR UPON A VERIFIED PETITION, REMOVE OR DISQUALIFY, AFTER DUE NOTICE AND HEARING, A PARTY-LIST NOMINEE ON THE GROUND THAT THEY DO NOT POSSESS ANY OF THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A PARTY-LIST NOMINEE OR THAT THEY POSSESS ANY OF THE PROHIBITIONS."

SEC. 8. Section 10 of the said Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 10. Manner of Voting. Every voter shall be entitled to two (2) votes FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: the first is a vote for candidate for member of the House of Representatives in [his] THE legislative district, and the second, a vote for the [party, organizations, or coalition he wants] PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION THEY WANT represented in the House of Representatives IN THE PARTY-LIST SYSTEM: Provided, That a vote cast for a [party, sectoral organization, or coalition] PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION not entitled to be voted for shall not be countedf: Provided, finally, That the first election under the party-list system shall be held in May 1998] AND SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED IN THE COMPUTATION OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTES CAST FOR THE PARTY-LIST ELECTION. XXX"

SEC. 9. Section 11 of the said Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 11. Number of Party-List Representatives. The party-list representatives shall constitute twenty per centum (20%) of the total number of the members of the House of Representatives including those under the party-list. XXX In determining the allocation of seats for the second vote, the following procedure shall be observed: (a) The parties, organizations, and coalitions] PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATIONS shall be ranked from the highest to the lowest based on the number of votes they garnered during the elections. (b) The [parties, organizations, and coalitions] PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATIONS receiving at least [two percent (2%)] THE WINNING MINIMUM PERCENTAGE THRESHOLD 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%)] THE WINNING MINIMUM PERCENTAGE THRESHOLD of the votes shall be entitled to additional seats in proportion to their total number of votes:

1 Provided, finally, That each [party, organization, and coalition] PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATION shall be entitled to not more than three (3) seats.

SEC. 10. A new Section 18 shall be inserted to the said Act as follows, with the

provisions below it renumbered accordingly: "SECTION 18. VOTER EDUCATION. THE COMELEC, THROUGH, WITH, 6 AND IN SUPPORT OF ACCREDITED CITIZENS' ARMS, SHALL CARRY OUT A 7 CONTINUING AND SYSTEMATIC CAMPAIGN THROUGH PUBLICATIONS, RADIO, TELEVISION, AND OTHER MEDIA FORMS, INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA, AS WELL AS THROUGH SEMINARS, SYMPOSIA, FORA, AND OTHER NON-TRADITIONAL MEANS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND FULLY INFORM THE ELECTORATE ABOUT THE PARTY-LIST SYSTEM INCLUDING HOW TO 12 CAST THE VOTE THEREFOR."

SEC. 11. The new Section 19, formerly Section 18, of the said Act is hereby

amended to read as follows: "Section [18] 19. Rules and Regulations. The COMELEC, IN CONSULTATION WITH PARTY-LIST ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS, AND MEMBERS OF THE ACADEME, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations IN THE FORM OF RESOLUTIONS as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act."

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid

or unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,

presidential proclamations, letters of instruction, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days

following the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette, or in a national newspaper of general circulation. Approved,