Elections in the Philippines are of several types. The president, vice-president, and the senators are elected for a six-year term, while the members of the House of Representatives, governors, vice-governors, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, mayors, vice-mayors, members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod/members of the Sangguniang Bayan, barangay officials, and the members of the Sangguniang Kabataan are elected to serve for a three-year term.
The Philippines is divided into four levels of administrative divisions, with the lower three being defined in the Local Government Code of 1991 as local government units (LGUs). They are, from the highest to the lowest:
- Regions are mostly used to organize national services. Of the 17 regions, only one—the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao—has an elected government to which the central government has devolved competencies.
- Provinces, independent cities, and one independent municipality (Pateros)
- Component cities and municipalities within a province
- Barangays within a city or municipality
Sangguniang Panlalawigan, commonly known as the Provincial Board, are the legislatures in Philippine provinces. They are the legislative branches of the provinces, and their powers and responsibilities are defined by the Local Government Code of 1991. Along with the provincial governor, the executive branch of the province, they form the province's government.
The Sangguniang Bayan is the local legislative branch of the municipal governments in the Philippines. It is responsible for passing ordinances and resolutions for the administration of a municipality. Its powers are defined by the Local Government Code, passed by Congress in 1991.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is the local legislative body of a city governments in the Philippines. The name of the legislative body comes from the Tagalog words "sanggunian" ("council") – ultimately from the rootword "sangguni" – and "lungsod" ("city"); "city council" is therefore often used as an equivalent term. Members of the city council are referred to as "kagawad"; while in Cebuano-speaking cities they are called "konsehal" (masc.) and "konsehala" (fem.), or "sehal".
In the Philippines, local government is divided into three levels: provinces and independent cities, component cities and municipalities, and barangays, all of which are collectively known as local government units (LGUs). In some areas, above provinces and independent chartered cities are autonomous regions, such as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. In towns and some cities they remit their revenue to national government and goes back in a form of IRA. Below barangays in some cities and municipalities are sitios and puroks. All of these, with the exception of sitios and puroks, elect their own executives and legislatures. Sitios and puroks are often but not necessarily led by an elected barangay councilor.
Barangay elections are elections in the Philippines in the barangays, the smallest of the administrative divisions in the Philippines. Barangays make up cities and municipalities and in turn are made up of sitios and puroks, whose leaders are not elected. Voters of each barangay over 18 years old are eligible to vote for one barangay captain and seven barangay councilors. Together, the barangay captain and barangay councilors make up the Sangguniang Barangay. Voters aged 15 to 30 years old vote in elections for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK): one SK chairperson and seven SK councilors during the same election. The winning SK chairperson serves as a member of the barangay council.
Local elections were held in the Philippines on May 13, 2013, the same day and on the same ballot as national elections. Elected were governors, mayors and council members of Philippine provinces, Philippine cities and Philippine municipalities. Separate elections for barangay officials were held on October.
The Manila City Council or the city's legislature is composed of 38 councilors, with 36 councilors elected from Manila's six councilor districts and two councilors elected from the ranks of barangay (neighborhood) chairmen and the Sangguniang Kabataan. The presiding officer of the council is the Vice Mayor, who is elected citywide.
The Cabuyao City Council is Cabuyao's Sangguniang Panlungsod or legislative body. The council has twelve members which is composed of ten councilors, one ex officio member elected from the ranks of barangay (neighborhood) chairmen and one presiding officer. The Vice-mayor of the city is the presiding officer of the council, who is elected citywide.
The Zamboanga City Council is Zamboanga City's Sangguniang Panlungsod or local legislature.
The Southern Leyte Provincial Board is the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Philippine province of Southern Leyte.
Local elections in the Philippines were held on May 9, 2016. This was conducted together with the 2016 general election for national positions. All elected positions above the barangay (village) level were disputed.
The Cebu City Council is the legislature of Cebu City, Philippines. The legislative body is composed of 18 councilors, with 16 councilors elected from Cebu City's two councilor districts and two elected from the ranks of barangay (neighborhood) chairmen and the Sangguniang Kabataan. The council's presiding officer is the vice-mayor. The council is responsible for creating laws and ordinances under the jurisdiction of Cebu City. Although the mayor can veto proposed bills, the council can override the veto with a two-thirds supermajority.
The Philippine Councilors League is an official organization in the Philippines composed of all elected, appointed, and ex officio members of legislative councils in the cities and municipalities of the country.
The Dipolog City Council is Dipolog's Sangguniang Panlungsod or legislative body. The council has thirteen (13) members which is composed of ten (10) councilors, one (1) ex officio member elected from the ranks of barangay (neighborhood) chairmen, one (1) ex officio member elected from the ranks of Sangguniang Kabataan chairmen and one (1) presiding officer. The city's vice-mayor is the council's presiding officer, who is elected citywide.
The Dapitan City Council is Dapitan's Sangguniang Panlungsod or legislative body. The council has 13 members which are composed of ten councilors, one ex officio member elected from the ranks of barangay (neighborhood) chairmen, one ex officio member elected from the ranks of Sangguniang Kabataan chairmen and one presiding officer. The Vice-mayor of the city is the presiding officer of the council, who is elected citywide.
The Baguio City Council is Baguio's Sangguniang Panlungsod or legislative body. The council has 15 members which is composed of 12 councilors, one ex officio member elected from the ranks of barangay (neighborhood) chairmen, one ex officio member elected from the ranks of Sangguniang Kabataan chairmen and one presiding officer. The Vice-mayor of the city is the presiding officer of the council, who is elected citywide.
The Quezon City Council is Quezon City's Sangguniang Panlungsod or legislature. It is composed of 36 councilors, with 6 councilors elected from Quezon City's six councilor districts and two councilors elected from the ranks of barangay (neighborhood) chairmen and the Sangguniang Kabataan. The presiding officer of the council is the Vice Mayor, who is elected citywide.
The Bacolod City Council is the legislature of Bacolod City, Philippines. The legislative body is composed of 14 councilors, with 12 councilors elected from Bacolod's at-large district and two elected from the ranks of barangay (neighborhood) chairmen and the Sangguniang Kabataan. The council's presiding officer is the vice-mayor, elected by the city at-large. The council creates laws and ordinances applicable within the jurisdiction of Bacolod City, although the Mayor of Bacolod can veto proposed bills, the council can override the veto with a two-thirds supermajority.
