The Congress of the Philippines is the legislature of the national government of the Philippines. It is bicameral, composed of an upper body, the Senate, and a lower body, the House of Representatives, although colloquially, the term "Congress" commonly refers to just the latter. The Senate meets at the GSIS Building in Pasay, while the House of Representatives meets at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, which also hosts joint sessions.
The House of Representatives is the lower house of Congress, the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, with the Senate of the Philippines as the upper house. The lower house is commonly referred to as Congress, although the term collectively refers to both houses.
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.
Congressional districts, also known as electoral districts in other nations, are divisions of a larger administrative region that represent the population of a region in the larger congressional body. Countries with congressional districts include the United States, the Philippines, and Japan.
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
The legislative districts of Antipolo are the representations of the component city of Antipolo in the Congress of the Philippines. The city is currently represented in the lower house of Congress through its first and second congressional districts.
The legislative districts of Batangas are the representations of the province of Batangas in the various national and local legislatures of the Philippines. At present, the province is represented in the House of Representatives of the Philippines by its six congressional districts, with the districts' representatives being elected every three years. Additionally, each district is allotted two seats in the Batangas Provincial Board, creating a total of twelve elective seats in the legislature.
The legislative districts of Bukidnon are the representations of the province of Bukidnon in the various national legislatures of the Philippines. The province is currently represented in the lower house of the Congress of the Philippines through its first, second, third, and fourth congressional districts.
The legislative districts of Mountain Province are the representations of Mountain Province in the various national legislatures of the Philippines. The province is currently represented in the lower house of the Congress of the Philippines through its lone congressional district.
The legislative districts of Sulu are the representations of the province of Sulu in the various national legislatures of the Philippines. The province is currently represented in the lower house of the Congress of the Philippines through its first and second congressional districts.
The legislative districts of Leyte are the representations of the province of Leyte, the independent component city of Ormoc, and highly urbanized city of Tacloban in the various national legislatures of the Philippines. The province, together with the independent cities are currently represented in the lower house of the Congress of the Philippines through their first, second, third, fourth, and fifth congressional districts.
The legislative districts of Lanao del Sur are the representations of the province of Lanao del Sur in the various national legislatures of the Philippines. The province is currently represented in the lower house of the Congress of the Philippines through its first and second congressional districts.
Electoral districts go by different names depending on the country and the office being elected.
Batangas's 1st congressional district is one of the six congressional districts of the Philippines in the province of Batangas. It has been represented in the House of Representatives of the Philippines since 1916 and earlier in the Philippine Assembly from 1907 to 1916. The district consists of the western Batangas municipalities of Balayan, Calatagan, Lemery, Lian, Nasugbu, Taal and Tuy and the component city of Calaca. It is currently represented in the 19th Congress by Eric Buhain of the Nacionalista Party (NP).
Laguna's 1st congressional district is one of the six congressional districts of the Philippines in the province of Laguna, formerly La Laguna. It has been represented in the House of Representatives of the Philippines since 1916 and earlier in the Philippine Assembly from 1907 to 1916. The district currently consists of the northwestern city of San Pedro. It also encompassed the western Laguna municipalities of Alaminos, Bay, Cabuyao, Calamba, Calauan, Los Baños, Pila, San Pablo, and Victoria until 1972; Biñan until 2016; and Santa Rosa until 2022. It is currently represented in the 19th Congress by Ann Matibag of Lakas–CMD.
Laguna's 2nd congressional district is one of the seven congressional districts of the Philippines in the province of Laguna, formerly La Laguna. It has been represented in the House of Representatives of the Philippines since 1916 and earlier in the Philippine Assembly from 1907 to 1916. The district consists of the city of Cabuyao and adjacent municipalities of Bay and Los Baños. It is currently represented in the 19th Congress by Ruth Mariano-Hernandez of the Lakas–CMD.
Batangas's 2nd congressional district is one of the six congressional districts of the Philippines in the province of Batangas. It has been represented in the House of Representatives of the Philippines since 1916 and earlier in the Philippine Assembly from 1907 to 1916. The district consists of the southern Batangas municipalities of Bauan, Lobo, Mabini, San Luis, San Pascual and Tingloy. It is currently represented in the 19th Congress by Gerville Luistro of Lakas-CMD.
Nueva Vizcaya's at-large congressional district, also known as Nueva Vizcaya's lone district, is the sole congressional district of the Philippines in the province of Nueva Vizcaya for various national legislatures since 1898. The province first elected its representative provincewide at-large for the Malolos Congress of the First Philippine Republic. In 1907, when the Philippine Assembly was established, the province had no representation as it was then classified as a special province under the supervision of the Department of the Interior Bureau of Non-Christian Tribes. Since 1916 when it was re-established as a specially organized province separate from its former Comandancia de Quiañgan which became the Ifugao sub-province under Jones Law, Nueva Vizcaya has been entitled to one member in the House of Representatives. It remains as a single-member district, except for a brief period between 1943 and 1944 when a second seat was allocated in the National Assembly of the Second Philippine Republic.
Abra's at-large congressional district refers to the lone congressional district of the Philippines in the province of Abra. Abra has been represented in the country's various national legislatures since 1898. The first congressional delegation consisted of two members in the First Philippine Republic legislature known as the Malolos Congress. Since 1919 when it was re-established as a regular province separate from Ilocos Sur, Abra has been entitled to one member in the House of Representatives of the Philippines, elected provincewide at-large, except for a brief period between 1943 and 1944 when it was again represented by two members in the National Assembly of the Second Philippine Republic. From 1978 to 1984, all provinces were converted into multi-seat regional at-large districts for the Interim Batasang Pambansa of the Fourth Philippine Republic, with Abra forming part of the twelve-seat Region I's at-large district. It was restored as a single-member district in 1984.
Quirino's at-large congressional district is the sole congressional district of the Philippines in the province of Quirino. It has been represented in the House of Representatives since 1987 and earlier in the Batasang Pambansa from 1984 to 1986.
