The party-list proportional representation system is a relatively new addition to Philippine politics and particularly the country's electoral system. Only in 1987 was the new Constitution introduced and formalized with RA 7941 (The Party-list System Act) in 1995, to open the legislature to marginalized and underrepresented sectors or groups without a well-defined political constituency but who could contribute to the formulation of policies beneficial to the nation. (RA 7941 1995, Sec. 2) Since then, several problems have occurred in the implementation of the statutory law and the principles of the constitutional provision on the party list system. Rodriguez and Velasco (1998, 36-48) and Tangkia and Habaradas ( 2001) listed some: low voter turnout, inefficiency of the COMELEC in disseminating public information, and confusing instructions in explaining a new electoral structure. However, one of the longest-standing issues is the allocation of seats as RA 7941 does not provide a clear formula for translating votes into seats. (Rodriguez 2002, 25 and Rodriguez and Velasco 1998, 39) An allocation formula is one of the basic and fundamental requirements of a party list system. However, ironically, the authors of the law appear to have forgotten to include a clear allocation formula, even though this was addressed during the deliberations on the RA 7941 origin bills. The effects of its absence were most evident during the 1998 and 2007 elections. In 1998, 14 party list seats were already permanently filled using the “COMELEC 2-4-6 formula.” The aforementioned formula provided for the distribution of one seat for every 2% obtained by a party in the votes of the party lists. For example, APEC was allocated two seats with its 5.5% but ABA (according to...... half of the document...... 2007. “The party list system in Philippines: Proportional Representation and Seat Allocation Errors” Discussion Paper: Center for People Empowerment in Governance/University of the Philippines. Republic Act 7941. 1995. “The Party List System Law.” Martin G. and Djorina Velasco 1998. Democracy Rising The Trials and Triumphs of the 1998 Party List Elections QC: Institute of Politics and Governance and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Agustin Martin G. 2002. The Crooked Road to Representation : the experience of Philippine party lists of Government and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.Tangkia, Fritzie Palma and Ma.AraceliBascoHabaradas 2001.“Party-List System: The Philippine Experience.http://www.library.fes.de/ pdffiles /bueros/philippinen/50076.pdf (November 27, 2011).