After the voter registration concluded on September 30, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is now focused on the filing of certificates of candidacy for the may 2025 midterm elections.
Alongside this, various party lists are also emerging.
During elections, a voter can only vote for one party list.
But when did the party-list system begin, and what is their role in our country?
In 1987, the Party-list System was introduced in the Philippines, and it was strengthened with the passage of Republic Act No. 7941 or the Party-list Law on March 3, 1995.
The party list represents and gives a voice to a group or sector in Congress.
During elections, each party list must have 10 nominees who will represent them.
Winning party lists will select one to three nominees to sit in Congress.
It was during the May 11, 1998, national elections that party lists were first included in the elections.
This is important to ensure that various groups have a voice, which is one of the key aspects of democracy.
