Legislative districts of Leyte

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.

Southern Leyte and Biliran last formed part of the province's representation in 1961 and 1995, respectively.

History

Leyte was originally divided into four congressional districts from 1907 until 1931, when it was redistricted to five congressional districts by virtue of Act No. 3788. ^[1]

When seats for the upper house of the Philippine Legislature were elected from territory-based districts between 1916 and 1935, the province formed part of the ninth senatorial district which elected two out of the 24-member senate.

In the disruption caused by the Second World War, two delegates represented the province in the National Assembly of the Japanese-sponsored Second Philippine Republic: one was the provincial governor (an ex officio member), while the other was elected through a provincial assembly of KALIBAPI members during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. Upon the restoration of the Philippine Commonwealth in 1945, the province retained its five pre-war representative districts.

Even after receiving their own city charters, Ormoc and Tacloban remained part of the representation of the Province of Leyte by virtue of Section 90 of Republic Act No. 179 (June 21, 1947), ^[2] and Section 91 of Republic Act No. 760 (June 20, 1952), ^[3] respectively.

Republic Act No. 2227, enacted on May 22, 1959, created the province of Southern Leyte from the southern municipalities of Leyte that constituted its third congressional district. ^[4] Per Section 5 of R.A. 2227, the incumbent representatives of all five districts of Leyte continued to serve for the remainder of 4th Congress. Starting in the 1961 elections, Leyte's remaining four districts were renumbered; the first, second, fourth and fifth districts were re-designated as the third, fourth, first and second districts, respectively.

Leyte was represented in the Interim Batasang Pambansa as part of Region VIII from 1978 to 1984. The province returned five representatives, elected at-large, to the Regular Batasang Pambansa in 1984.

Under the new Constitution which was proclaimed on February 11, 1987, the province was re-apportioned into five districts, ^[5] each of which elected its member to the restored House of Representatives starting that same year.

A plebiscite held on May 11, 1992, approved the establishment of Biliran (a sub-province of Leyte since 1959 ^[6] ) as a regular province, by virtue of Section 462 of Republic Act No. 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991). ^[7] Biliran continued to be represented as part of the third district of Leyte until it elected its own representative in the 1995 elections.

1st District

• City : Tacloban ^{[lower-alpha 1]}
• Municipalities : Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tanauan, Tolosa
• Population (2015): 511,031

Map of the current 1st District of Leyte

Period	Representative [8]
8th Congress 1987–1992	Cirilo Roy G. Montejo
9th Congress 1992–1995
10th Congress 1995–1998	Imelda R. Marcos [lower-alpha 2]
11th Congress 1998–2001	Alfred S. Romualdez
12th Congress 2001–2004	Mario Teodoro E. Failon (Mario Teodoro F. Etong) [lower-alpha 3]
13th Congress 2004–2007	Remedios L. Petilla
14th Congress 2007–2010	Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez
15th Congress 2010–2013
16th Congress 2013–2016
17th Congress 2016–2019	Yedda Marie Romualdez
18th Congress 2019–2022	Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez
19th Congress 2022–2025

Notes

1. Does not vote for provincial officials since becoming a highly urbanized city in 1988. Only votes with Leyte for representation in the various national legislatures.
2. Assumed office on October 27, 1995, after the Supreme Court dismissed the disqualification case filed against her for supposedly failing to meet residency requirements.
3. Mario Teodoro F. Etong was the name he used on his Certificate of Candidacy.

1907–1931

• Municipalities : Baybay, Caibiran, Kawayan (Almeria), Leyte, Merida, Naval, Ormoc, Palompon, San Isidro, Biliran (re-established 1909), Villaba (re-established 1909), Maripipi (re-established 1914), Albuera (re-established 1917), Calubian (re-established 1919)

Period	Representative
1st Philippine Legislature 1907–1909	Quiremon Alkuino
2nd Philippine Legislature 1909–1912	Estanislao Granados
3rd Philippine Legislature 1912–1916
4th Philippine Legislature 1916–1919	Manuel Veloso
5th Philippine Legislature 1919–1922	Francisco D. Enage
6th Philippine Legislature 1922–1925	Carlos S. Tan
7th Philippine Legislature 1925–1928	Juan Veloso
8th Philippine Legislature 1928–1931	Bernardo Torres

1931–1961

• Municipalities : Biliran, Caibiran, Calubian, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi, Merida, Naval, Palompon, San Isidro, Villaba, Isabel (re-established 1947), Almeria (re-established 1948), Cabucgayan (established 1949), Tabango (established 1949), Culaba (re-established 1953), Matag-ob (established 1957)

Period	Representative [8]
9th Philippine Legislature 1931–1934	Carlos S. Tan
10th Philippine Legislature 1934–1935
1st National Assembly 1935–1938	Jose Maria Veloso
2nd National Assembly 1938–1941	Carlos S. Tan
1st Commonwealth Congress 1945	Mateo Canonoy
1st Congress 1946–1949	Carlos S. Tan [lower-alpha 1]
	Jose R. Martinez [lower-alpha 2]
2nd Congress 1949–1953	Mateo Canonoy
3rd Congress 1953–1957	Carlos S. Tan
4th Congress 1957–1961	Marcelino R. Veloso

Notes

1. Proclaimed as senator in 1947 elections, per decision of Senate Electoral Tribunal dated December 16, 1947. ^[8]
2. Won in special election held on March 23, 1948, to fill vacant seat. ^[8]

1961–1972

• City : Tacloban
• Municipalities : Abuyog, Babatngon, Dulag, Javier (Bugho), MacArthur, Mahaplag, Mayorga, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tanauan, Tolosa

Period	Representative [8]
5th Congress 1961–1965	Daniel Z. Romualdez
6th Congress 1965–1969	Artemio E. Mate
7th Congress 1969–1972

2nd District

• Municipalities : Barugo, Burauen, Capoocan, Carigara, Dagami, Dulag, Jaro, Julita, La Paz, MacArthur, Mayorga, Pastrana, Tabontabon, Tunga
• Population (2015): 406,359

Map of the current 2nd District of Leyte

Period	Representative [8]
8th Congress 1987–1992	Manuel L. Horca, Jr.
9th Congress 1992–1995	Sergio Antonio F. Apostol [lower-alpha 1]
10th Congress 1995–1998
11th Congress 1998–2001
	vacant
12th Congress 2001–2004	Trinidad G. Apostol
13th Congress 2004–2007
14th Congress 2007–2010
15th Congress 2010–2013	Sergio Antonio F. Apostol
16th Congress 2013–2016
17th Congress 2016–2019	Henry L. Ong
18th Congress 2019–2022	Lolita T. Javier
19th Congress 2022–2025

Notes

1. Appointed Chairman of Philippine National Oil Company—Exploration and Development Corporation in 2001; seat remained vacant until the end of the 11th Congress. ^[8]

1907–1931

• Municipalities : Bato, Cabalian, Hilongos, Hindang, Inopacan, Liloan, Maasin, Malitbog, Matalom, Pintuyan (San Ricardo), Sogod, Macrohon (re-established 1908), Libagon (Sogod Sur) (re-established 1913)

Period	Representative [8]
1st Philippine Legislature 1907–1909	Florentino Peñaranda
2nd Philippine Legislature 1909–1912	Francisco Zialcita
3rd Philippine Legislature 1912–1916	Dalmacio Costas
4th Philippine Legislature 1916–1919
5th Philippine Legislature 1919–1922	Ciriaco K. Kangleon
6th Philippine Legislature 1922–1925	Tomas Oppus
7th Philippine Legislature 1925–1928
8th Philippine Legislature 1928–1931

1931–1961

• Municipalities : Albuera, Bato, Baybay, Hilongos, Hindang, Inopacan, Matalom, Ormoc (became city 1947), Kananga (established 1950)

Period	Representative [8]
9th Philippine Legislature 1931–1934	Pacifico Ybañez
10th Philippine Legislature 1934–1935	Dominador M. Tan
1st National Assembly 1935–1938
2nd National Assembly 1938–1941
1st Commonwealth Congress 1945
1st Congress 1946–1949	Domingo Veloso
2nd Congress 1949–1953
3rd Congress 1953–1957
4th Congress 1957–1961	Alberto Aguja

1961–1972

• Municipalities : Alangalang, Barugo, Burauen, Capoocan, Carigara, Dagami, Jaro, Julita, La Paz, Pastrana, Tabontabon, Tunga

Period	Representative [8]
5th Congress 1961–1965	Primo "Olong" Avestruz Villasin
6th Congress 1965–1969	Salud Vivero Parreño [lower-alpha 1]
7th Congress 1969–1972	vacant [lower-alpha 2]

Notes

1. Died on December 27, 1969, three days before end of term.
2. Salud Vivero Parreño was re-elected in the 1969 elections for a second term, but died before the opening of the 7th Congress. No special election was held to fill the seat vacancy. ^[8]

3rd District

• Municipalities : Calubian, Leyte, San Isidro, Tabango, Villaba
• Population (2015): 179,594

Map of the current 3rd District of Leyte

Period	Representative [8]
10th Congress 1995–1998	Alberto S. Veloso
11th Congress 1998–2001	Eduardo K. Veloso
12th Congress 2001–2004
13th Congress 2004–2007
14th Congress 2007–2010	Andres D. Salvacion, Jr.
15th Congress 2010–2013
16th Congress 2013–2016
17th Congress 2016–2019	Vicente Sofronio E. Veloso III
18th Congress 2019–2022
19th Congress 2022–2025	Anna Victoria V. Tuazon

1907–1931

• Municipalities : Abuyog, Barugo, Burauen, Carigara, Dagami, Hinunangan, Jaro, Pastrana (re-established 1909), Hinundayan (re-established 1910), La Paz (re-established 1910), Capoocan (re-established 1917), Anahawan (Delgado) (re-established 1929)

Period	Representative [8]
1st Philippine Legislature 1907–1909	Florentino Peñaranda
2nd Philippine Legislature 1909–1912	Abdon Marchadesch
3rd Philippine Legislature 1912–1916	Miguel Romualdez
4th Philippine Legislature 1916–1919	Segundo Apostol
5th Philippine Legislature 1919–1922	Julio Siayangco
6th Philippine Legislature 1922–1925	Jose Maria Veloso
7th Philippine Legislature 1925–1928	Ruperto Kapunan
8th Philippine Legislature 1928–1931	Jorge B. Delgado

1931–1961

• Municipalities : Anahawan, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Libagon, Liloan, Maasin, Macrohon, Malitbog, Pintuyan, San Juan (Cabalian), Sogod, Bontoc (established 1950), Silago (established 1950), Saint Bernard (established 1950), Padre Burgos (established 1957)

Period	Representative [8]
9th Philippine Legislature 1931–1934	Tomas Oppus
10th Philippine Legislature 1934–1935
1st National Assembly 1935–1938
2nd National Assembly 1938–1941
1st Commonwealth Congress 1945
1st Congress 1946–1949	Francisco M. Pajao
2nd Congress 1949–1953
3rd Congress 1953–1957
4th Congress 1957–1961	Nicanor E. Yñiguez

1961–1972

• Municipalities : Almeria, Biliran, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Calubian, Culaba, Isabel, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi, Matag-ob, Merida, Naval, Palompon, San Isidro, Tabango, Villaba

Period	Representative [8]
5th Congress 1961–1965	Marcelino R. Veloso
6th Congress 1965–1969
7th Congress 1969–1972

1987–1995

• Municipalities : Almeria, Biliran, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Calubian, Culaba, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi, Naval, San Isidro, Tabango, Villaba

Period	Representative [8]
8th Congress 1987–1992	Alberto S. Veloso
9th Congress 1992–1995

4th District

• City : Ormoc ^{[lower-alpha 1]}
• Municipalities : Albuera, Isabel, Kananga, Matag-ob, Merida, Palompon
• Population (2015): 471,197

Map of the current 4th District of Leyte

Period	Representative [8]
8th Congress 1987–1992	Carmelo J. Locsin
9th Congress 1992–1995
10th Congress 1995–1998
11th Congress 1998–2001	Ma. Victoria L. Locsin [lower-alpha 2]
12th Congress 2001–2004
	Eufrocino M. Codilla, Sr. [lower-alpha 3]
13th Congress 2004–2007
14th Congress 2007–2010
15th Congress 2010–2013	Lucy Marie T. Gomez [lower-alpha 4]
	vacant
16th Congress 2013–2016	Lucy Marie T. Gomez
17th Congress 2016–2019
18th Congress 2019–2022
19th Congress 2022–2025	Richard I. Gomez

Notes

1. Does not vote for provincial officials since becoming a chartered city in 1947. Only votes with Leyte for representation in the various national legislatures.
2. Declared winner in 2001 election and assumed second term of office on June 30, 2001. Unseated after losing election protest filed by Eufrocinio M. Codilla, Sr. on December 10, 2002. ^{[8] [9]}
3. Won election protest against Ma. Victoria Locsin; took oath of office on December 11, 2002. ^{[8] [9]}
4. Disqualified by the Supreme Court on March 19, 2013, for being ineligible to run for office as substitute of Richard Gomez. ^{[8] [10]} Seat remained vacant until the end of 15th Congress.

1907–1931

• Municipalities : Alangalang, Babatngon, Dulag, Palo, Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa, San Miguel (re-established 1909)

Period	Representative [8]
1st Philippine Legislature 1907–1909	Jaime C. De Veyra
2nd Philippine Legislature 1909–1912
3rd Philippine Legislature 1912–1916	Francisco D. Enage
4th Philippine Legislature 1916–1919	Ruperto Kapunan
5th Philippine Legislature 1919–1922
6th Philippine Legislature 1922–1925	Filomeno Montejo
7th Philippine Legislature 1925–1928
8th Philippine Legislature 1928–1931	Cirilo Bayaya

1931–1961

• Municipalities : Abuyog, Babatngon, Dulag, Palo, San Miguel, Tacloban (became city 1953), Tanauan, Tolosa, Santa Fe (established 1949), MacArthur (established 1954), Mayorga (established 1955), Mahaplag (established 1957), Bugho (established 1961)

Period	Representative [8]
9th Philippine Legislature 1931–1934	Cirilo Bayaya
10th Philippine Legislature 1934–1935	Fortunato M. Sevilla
1st National Assembly 1935–1938	Francisco D. Enage
2nd National Assembly 1938–1941	Norberto Romualdez
1st Commonwealth Congress 1945	Filomeno Montejo
1st Congress 1946–1949	Juan R. Perez
2nd Congress 1949–1953	Daniel Z. Romualdez
3rd Congress 1953–1957
4th Congress 1957–1961

1961–1972

• Cities : Ormoc
• Municipalities : Albuera, Bato, Baybay, Hilongos, Hindang, Inopacan, Kananga, Matalom

Period	Representative [8]
5th Congress 1961–1965	Dominador M. Tan
6th Congress 1965–1969
7th Congress 1969–1972	Rodolfo Rivilla

5th District

• City : Baybay (became city 2007)
• Municipalities : Abuyog, Bato, Hilongos, Hindang, Inopacan, Javier, Mahaplag, Matalom
• Population (2015): 398,587

Map of the current 5th District of Leyte

Period	Representative [8]
8th Congress 1987–1992	Eriberto V. Loreto
9th Congress 1992–1995
10th Congress 1995–1998
11th Congress 1998–2001	Ma. Catalina L. Loreto-Go
12th Congress 2001–2004	Carmen L. Cari
13th Congress 2004–2007
14th Congress 2007–2010
15th Congress 2010–2013	Jose Carlos L. Cari
16th Congress 2013–2016
17th Congress 2016–2019
18th Congress 2019–2022	Carl Nicolas C. Cari
19th Congress 2022–2025

1931–1961

• Municipalities : Alangalang, Barugo, Burauen, Capoocan, Carigara, Dagami, Jaro, La Paz, Pastrana, Tunga (established 1949), Julita (established 1949), Tabontabon (established 1950)

Period	Representative [8]
9th Philippine Legislature 1931–1934	Ruperto Kapunan
10th Philippine Legislature 1934–1935	Jorge B. Delgado
1st National Assembly 1935–1938	Ruperto Kapunan [lower-alpha 1]
2nd National Assembly 1938–1941
	Atilano R. Cinco [lower-alpha 2]
1st Commonwealth Congress 1945	Jose Maria Veloso
1st Congress 1946–1949	Atilano R. Cinco
2nd Congress 1949–1953
3rd Congress 1953–1957	Alberto T. Aguja
4th Congress 1957–1961

Notes

1. Died on February 4, 1939. ^[8]
2. Won in special election held on December 10, 1940, to fill vacant seat. ^[8]

At-Large (defunct)

1943–1944

• also encompasses present-day provinces of Biliran and Southern Leyte, and the independent cities of Ormoc and Tacloban

Period	Representatives [8]
National Assembly 1943–1944	Jose Maria Veloso [11]
	Bernardo Torres (ex officio) [11]

1984–1986

• also encompasses present-day province of Biliran, and the independent cities of Ormoc and Tacloban

Period	Representatives [8]
Regular Batasang Pambansa 1984–1986	Damian V. Aldaba
	Artemio E. Mate
	Emiliano J. Melgazo
	Benjamin T. Romualdez
	Alberto S. Veloso

See also

• Legislative district of Biliran
• Legislative districts of Southern Leyte

References

1. Philippine Legislature (1935). "Public laws enacted by the Philippine Legislature: during the period from Sept. 1, 1900 to Nov. 14, 1935; comprising acts nos. 1 to 4275, Volume 31" . Retrieved August 1, 2019.
2. Congress of the Philippines (June 21, 1947). "Republic Act No. 179 – An Act Creating Ormoc City". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
3. Congress of the Philippines (June 20, 1952). "Republic Act No. 760 – An Act Creating the City of Tacloban". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
4. "Republic Act No. 2227 - An Act Creating the Province of Southern Leyte". The LawPhil Project. May 22, 1959. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
5. 1986 Constitutional Commission (February 2, 1987). "1987 Constitution of the Philippines - Apportionment Ordinance". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
6. "Republic Act No. 2141 - An Act Creating the Sub-Province of Biliran". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
7. Congress of the Philippines (October 10, 1991). "Republic Act No. 7160 - Local Government Code of 1991" . Retrieved August 1, 2019.
8. Congressional Library Bureau. "Roster of Philippine Legislators". Republic of the Philippines, House of Representatives. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
9. Supreme Court of the Philippines (December 10, 2002). "G.R. No. 150605 - EUFROCINO M. CODILLA, SR., Petitioner, vs. HON. JOSE DE VENECIA, ROBERTO P. NAZARENO, in their official capacities as Speaker and Secretary-General of the House of Representatives, respectively, and MA. VICTORIA L. LOCSIN, Respondents" . Retrieved August 4, 2019.
10. Supreme Court of the Philippines (March 19, 2013). "G.R. No. 202202 - SILVERIO R. TAGOLINO, Petitioner, vs. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL AND LUCY MARIE TORRES-GOMEZ, Respondents" . Retrieved August 4, 2019.
11. Official program of the inauguration of the Republic of the Philippines and the induction into office of His Excellency Jose P. Laurel. Bureau of Printing. 1943.