What is the party-list system of election?

It is a mechanism of proportional representation in the election of

representatives to the House of Representatives from marginalized
or underrepresented national, regional and sectoral parties, or
organizations or coalitions thereof registered with the Commission
on Elections (Comelec).
It is part of the electoral process that enables small political parties
and marginalized and underrepresented sectors to obtain possible
representation in the House of Representatives, which traditionally
is dominated by parties with big political machinery.
For purposes of the May 14, 2001 elections, what are the
important dates in relation to the party-list system of election?
November 15, 2000 last day to file petition for registration for
party-list system.
February 12, 2001 last day to file manifestation to participate in
the party-list election.
March 31, 2001 last day to submit to the Law Department,
Commission on Elections, Intramuros, Manila a list of at least five
(5) nominees to represent said party/organization/coalition.
What are the legal bases for the party-list system of election?

[a]
The Constitution
Departmentprovides:

in

its

article

on

the

Legislative

chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

"[1] x x x 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 apportioned
among the provinces, cities, and the Metropolitan Manila Area in
accordance with the number of their respective inhabitants, and on
the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio, and those who, as
provided by law, shall be elected through a party-list system of
registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations;
"[2] The party-list representatives shall constitute twenty per
centumof the total number of representatives including those under
the party-list. For three consecutive terms after the ratification of
thisConstitution, one-half of the seats allocated to party-list
representatives shall be filled, as provided by law, by selection or
election from the labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural
communities, women, youth, and such other sectors as may be
provided
by
law,
except
the
religious
sector;

"[3] Each legislative district shall comprise, as far as practicable,

contiguous, compact and adjacent territory. Each city with a
population of at least two hundred fifty thousand, or each province,
shall
have
at
least
one
representative;
and
"[4] Within three years following the return of every census, the
Congress shall make a reapportionment of legislative districts based
on the standards provided in this section x x x." (Sec. 5, Article VI,
Constitution
of
the
Philippines)