Legislative districts of the Philippines

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The legislative districts of the Philippines are the divisions of the Philippines' provinces and cities for representation in the various legislative bodies. Congressional districts are for House of Representatives, while there are districts for Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and some Sangguniang Panlungsod. For purposes of representation, the Senate, most Sangguniang Panlungsod, Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan are all elected at-large, although there were districts for the Senate from 1916 to 1935.

Contents

The first composition of legislative districts was enshrined in the Ordinance appended to the Constitution. Changes in the composition of legislative districts were later added as new provinces and cities were created, and the composition was modified through laws enacted by Congress.

Apportionment on local legislatures is also possible.

History

Representation to the legislature traces its origin to the Spanish era, when the Philippines was granted very limited representation to the Spanish Cortes. During the American period, when the Philippine Bill of 1902 was enacted, the first Philippine Assembly was established as the lower house and the then-existing Philippine Commission as the upper house. Representation in the assembly was apportioned among the provinces with respect to their population, provided that no province shall have less than one member.

In 1916, the Philippine Legislature was reconstituted with a Senate as the upper house and the Assembly retained as the lower house. The Senate elected members through Senatorial Districts, a grouping of provinces and areas of the country, while the Assembly retained its way of representation. During the Commonwealth period, the Philippine Legislature was abolished, and a unicameral National Assembly was established, with representation being like that of the Philippine Assembly, each province having at least one member depending on its population.

With the passage of the 1940 Amendments to the 1935 Constitution, a bicameral Congress was established with a House of Representatives and a Senate. The House of Representatives way of representation was like that of the Philippine Assembly, while the Senate's members were elected at large.

With the coming of the Interim Batasang Pambansa and the regular Batasan during the Marcos regime, representation was done in many ways: most members were elected by regions, some by appointment from the different sectors of the society such as youth and labor, and some were members of the Cabinet appointed by the President. However, with the advent of the 1987 Constitution, the Batasan was scrapped and the Congress was restored. The present way of electing delegates to the House of Representatives is through legislative districts apportioned among the provinces, cities and the Metropolitan Manila Area and through a party-list system of registered national, regional and sectoral parties or organizations.

Senatorial districts

From 1916 to 1935, the Philippines was divided into 12 senatorial districts. Each district except for the twelfth senatorial district elected two senators to the Senate. The senators from 12th senatorial district were appointed by the U.S. Governor-General. Since 1941, when the Senate was restored, all twenty-four senators have been elected at-large in intervals.

Senatorial District Provinces and/or cities
First District Abra (re-established 1917), Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela
Second District La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales
Third District Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac
Fourth District Manila, Bataan, Laguna, Rizal
Fifth District Batangas, Cavite, Marinduque (established 1920), Mindoro, Tayabas
Sixth District Albay, Ambos Camarines (split into Norte and Sur 1917), Sorsogon
Seventh District Capiz, Iloilo, Romblon (re-established 1917)
Eighth District Antique, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Palawan
Ninth District Leyte, Samar
Tenth District Cebu
Eleventh District Bohol, Misamis (split into Occidental and Oriental 1929), Surigao
Twelfth District Baguio, Department of Mindanao and Sulu (abolished in 1920, consisted of the provinces of Agusan, Bukidnon, Davao, Lanao, Sulu, and Zamboanga), Mountain Province (consisted of the sub-provinces of Apayao, Benguet, Bontoc, Ifugao, and Kalinga), Nueva Vizcaya

Congressional districts

Number of districts per province and some cities in the 18th Congress of the Philippines. Ph congress 18.svg
Number of districts per province and some cities in the 18th Congress of the Philippines.

  Increased representation;   Decreased representation

Province / CityDistricts Congress of the Philippines
19th 2022–2025 18th 2019–2022 17th 2016–2019 16th 2013–2016 15th 2010–2013 14th 2007–2010 13th 2004–2007 12th 2001–2004 11th 1998–2001 10th 1995–1998 9th 1992–1995 8th 1987–1992 7th 1970–1972 6th 1966–1969 5th 1962–1965 4th 1958–1961 3rd 1954–1957 2nd 1950–1953 1st 1946–1949
Abra Abra 1111111111111111111
Agusan del Norte (with Cabadbaran) and Butuan Agusan del Norte 2222222222221111111
Agusan del Sur (with Bayugan) Agusan del Sur 2222211111111
Aklan Aklan 2211111111111111(see Capiz)
Albay (with Legazpi, Ligao and Tabaco) Albay 3333333333333333333
Antique Antique 1111111111111111111
Apayao Apayao 111111111(see Kalinga)(see Mountain Province)
Aurora Aurora 111111111111(see Quezon)
Bacolod Bacolod 111111111111(see Negros Occidental)
Baguio Baguio 1111111111(see Benguet)(see Mountain Province)
Basilan (with Isabela and Lamitan) Basilan 111111111111(see Zamboanga del Sur)
Bataan (with Balanga) Bataan 3222222222222111111
Batanes Batanes 1111111111111111111
Batangas (with Batangas City, Santo Tomas, Lipa, and Tanauan) Batangas 6664444444443333333
Benguet Benguet 1111111111221(see Mountain Province)
Biliran Biliran 1111111111(see Leyte)
Bohol (with Tagbilaran) Bohol 3333333333333333333
Bukidnon (with Malaybalay and Valencia) Bukidnon 4444333333331111111
Bulacan (with Malolos, Meycauayan and San Jose del Monte) Bulacan, San Jose del Monte 7555555444422222222
Cagayan (with Tuguegarao) Cagayan 3333333333332222222
Cagayan de Oro Cagayan de Oro 222222111111(see Misamis Oriental)
Caloocan Caloocan 322222222222(see Rizal)
Camarines Norte Camarines Norte 2222211111111111111
Camarines Sur (with Iriga) and Naga Camarines Sur 5555544444442222222
Camiguin Camiguin 1111111111111(see Misamis Oriental)
Capiz (with Roxas) Capiz 2222222222222222333
Catanduanes Catanduanes 1111111111111111111
Cavite (with Bacoor, Cavite City, Dasmariñas, General Trias, Imus, Tagaytay, and Trece Martires) Cavite 8877733333331111111
Cebu (with Bogo, Carcar, Danao, Naga, Talisay, and Toledo) and Mandaue Cebu 7776666666667777777
Cebu City Cebu City 222222222222(see Cebu)
Cotabato (with Kidapawan) Cotabato 3333222222221111111
Davao City Davao City 333333333333(see Davao del Sur)11111
Davao de Oro Davao de Oro 222222222(see Davao del Norte)
Davao del Norte (with Panabo, Samal, and Tagum) Davao del Norte 22222222233311
Davao del Sur (with Digos) Davao del Sur 11122222222211
Davao Occidental Davao Occidental 111(see Davao del Sur)
Davao Oriental (with Mati) Davao Oriental 22222222222211
Dinagat Islands Dinagat Islands 111111(see Surigao del Norte)(see Surigao)
Eastern Samar (with Borongan) Eastern Samar 11111111111111(see Samar)
General Santos General Santos 1(see South Cotabato)(see Cotabato)
Guimaras Guimaras 1111111111(see Iloilo)
Ifugao Ifugao 111111111111(see Mountain Province)
Iligan Iligan 11111(see Lanao del Norte)
Ilocos Norte (with Laoag and Batac) Ilocos Norte 2222222222222222222
Ilocos Sur (with Candon and Vigan) Ilocos Sur 2222222222222222222
Iloilo (with Passi) Iloilo 5555555555555555555
Iloilo City Iloilo City 111111111111(see Iloilo)
Isabela (with Cauayan and Ilagan) and Santiago Isabela 6644444444441111111
Kalinga (with Tabuk) Kalinga 111111111111(see Mountain Province)
La Union (with San Fernando) La Union 2222222222222222222
Laguna (with Biñan, Cabuyao, Calamba, San Pablo, San Pedro, and Santa Rosa) Laguna, Biñan, Calamba, Santa Rosa 7654444444442222222
Lanao del Norte Lanao del Norte 2222222222221111111
Lanao del Sur (with Marawi) Lanao del Sur 222222222222111
Lapu-Lapu Lapu-Lapu 11111(see Cebu)
Las Piñas Las Piñas 111111111111(see Rizal)
Muntinlupa Muntinlupa 111111111
Leyte (with Baybay), Ormoc, and Tacloban Leyte 5555555555554445555
Maguindanao and Cotabato City Maguindanao 222222222222(see Cotabato)
Makati Makati 222222222111(see Rizal)
Malabon Malabon 111111111111
Navotas Navotas 11111
Mandaluyong Mandaluyong 111111111111
San Juan San Juan 1111111111
Mandaue Mandaue 1(see Cebu)
Manila Manila 6666666666664444442
Marikina Marikina 222222111111(see Rizal)
Marinduque Marinduque 1111111111111111111
Masbate (with Masbate City) Masbate 3333333333331111111
Misamis Occidental (with Oroquieta, Ozamiz, and Tangub) Misamis Occidental 2222222222221111111
Misamis Oriental (with El Salvador and Gingoog) Misamis Oriental 2222222222221111111
Mountain Province Mountain Province 1111111111111333333
Negros Occidental (with Bago, Cadiz, Escalante, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, La Carlota, Sagay, San Carlos, Silay, Sipalay, Talisay, and Victorias) Negros Occidental 6666666666663333333
Negros Oriental (with Bais, Bayawan, Canlaon, Dumaguete, Guihulngan, and Tanjay) Negros Oriental 3333333333332222222
Northern Samar Northern Samar 22222222222211(see Samar)
Nueva Ecija (with Cabanatuan, Gapan, Muñoz, Palayan and San Jose) Nueva Ecija 4444444444442222222
Nueva Vizcaya Nueva Vizcaya 1111111111111111111
Occidental Mindoro Occidental Mindoro 1111111111111111111
Oriental Mindoro (with Calapan) Oriental Mindoro 222222222222111111
Palawan and Puerto Princesa Palawan 3333222222221111111
Pampanga (with Mabalacat and San Fernando) and Angeles City Pampanga 4444444444442222222
Pangasinan (with Alaminos, San Carlos, and Urdaneta) and Dagupan Pangasinan 6666666666665555555
Parañaque Parañaque 222222211111(see Rizal)
Pasay Pasay 111111111111
Pasig Pasig 111111111111
Quezon and Lucena Quezon 4444444444442222222
Quezon City Quezon City 666644444444(see Rizal)
Quirino Quirino 111111111111(see Nueva Vizcaya)
Rizal (with Antipolo) Rizal, Antipolo 6444444332222222222
Romblon Romblon 1111111111111111111
Samar (with Calbayog and Catbalogan) Samar 2222222222221133333
Sarangani Sarangani 1111111111(see South Cotabato)(see Cotabato)
Siquijor Siquijor 111111111111(see Negros Oriental)
Sorsogon (with Sorsogon City) Sorsogon 2222222222222222222
South Cotabato (with Koronadal) South Cotabato 22222222223311(see Cotabato)
Southern Leyte (with Maasin) Southern Leyte 21111111111111(see Leyte)
Sultan Kudarat (with Tacurong) Sultan Kudarat 222222111111(see Cotabato)
Sulu Sulu 2222222222221111111
Surigao del Norte (with Surigao City) Surigao del Norte 2222222222221111111
Surigao del Sur (with Bislig and Tandag) Surigao del Sur 222222222222111
Taguig and Pateros Taguig and Pateros–Taguig 222222111111(see Rizal)
Tarlac (with Tarlac City) Tarlac 3333333333332222222
Tawi-Tawi Tawi-Tawi 111111111111(see Sulu)
Valenzuela Valenzuela 222222221111(see Bulacan)
Zambales and Olongapo Zambales 2222222222221111111
Zamboanga City Zamboanga City 222222111111(see Zamboanga del Sur)11
Zamboanga del Norte (with Dapitan and Dipolog) Zamboanga del Norte 33333333333311111
Zamboanga del Sur (with Pagadian) Zamboanga del Sur 22222222333311111
Zamboanga Sibugay Zamboanga Sibugay 22222211(see Zamboanga del Sur)
Total (Philippines)25324323823523021921220920820320020011010410410210210098

Local districts

As per the Bangsamoro Organic Law, representation in the Bangsamoro Parliament is based from its own parliamentary districts which is distinct from the congressional districts used to determine representation in the national House of Representatives. [1] However the current composition of the parliament is interim in nature and all members are appointed by the President with no regard to the current districts established in February 2024.

Representation via provincial boards, known as Sangguniang Panlalawigan are also via congressional districts except for a few instances, such as Bulacan's 4th provincial board district includes San Jose del Monte, while its congressional district does not. The province's income determines how many seats it is entitled to, with 6 seats being the least. If a province only has one congressional district, the Commission on Elections then divides the province into two districts based on population and geography.

If a city is split into several congressional districts, representation via its city councils, known as Sangguniang Panlungsod, follows the districts as set by the congressional districts; otherwise, representation is via an at-large district.

At-large representation is also used in municipalities through their Sangguniang Bayan (except in Pateros, where it is split into two districts), and in barangays through their Sangguniang Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan. At-large representation is always via plurality-at-large voting

See also

Related Research Articles

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:

  1. 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.
  2. Provinces, independent cities, and one independent municipality (Pateros)
  3. Component cities and municipalities within a province
  4. Barangays within a city or municipality

The legislative districts of Abra are the representations of the province of Abra 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 Agusan del Norte are the representations of the province of Agusan del Norte 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 Aklan are the representations of the province of Aklan 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 Agusan del Sur are the representations of the province of Agusan 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.

The legislative districts of Apayao are the representations of the province of Apayao 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 Albay are the representations of the province of Albay 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, and third congressional districts.

The legislative districts of Antique are the representations of the province of Antique 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legislative districts of Bulacan</span> Legislative district of the Philippines

The legislative districts of Bulacan are the representations of the province of Bulacan 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, fourth, fifth and sixth congressional districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legislative districts of Laguna</span> Legislative district of the Philippines

The legislative districts of Laguna are the representations of the province of Laguna 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.

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 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. Some towns and cities remit their revenue to national government and is returned through the national government through a process called internal revenue allotment. 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.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Philippine local elections</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Philippine local elections</span>

Local elections in the Philippines were held on May 13, 2019. This was conducted together with the 2019 general election for national positions. All elected positions above the barangay (village) level were disputed. The following positions were disputed:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Board</span> Legislative body of the province of Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines

The Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Board is the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Philippine province of Nueva Vizcaya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occidental Mindoro Provincial Board</span> Legislative body of the province of Occidental Mindoro, Philippines

The Occidental Mindoro Provincial Board is the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Philippine province of Occidental Mindoro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tawi-Tawi Provincial Board</span> Legislative body of the province of Tawi-Tawi, Philippines

The Tawi-Tawi Provincial Board is the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Philippine province of Tawi-Tawi.

References

  1. Panti, Llanesca (June 20, 2019). "BARMM's new parliamentary districts won't affect representation in House, says BTA member" . Retrieved June 22, 2019.