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Legislative districts of the Philippines

Divisions of the Philippines' provinces and cities for representation in legislative bodies


Divisions of the Philippines' provinces and cities for representation in legislative bodies

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.

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

Main article: Senatorial districts of the Philippines

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 DistrictProvinces and/or cities
First DistrictAbra (re-established 1917), Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela
Second DistrictLa Union, Pangasinan, Zambales
Third DistrictBulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac
Fourth DistrictManila, Bataan, Laguna, Rizal
Fifth DistrictBatangas, Cavite, Marinduque (established 1920), Mindoro, Tayabas
Sixth DistrictAlbay, Ambos Camarines (split into Norte and Sur 1917), Sorsogon
Seventh DistrictCapiz, Iloilo, Romblon (re-established 1917)
Eighth DistrictAntique, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Palawan
Ninth DistrictLeyte, Samar
Tenth DistrictCebu
Eleventh DistrictBohol, Misamis (split into Occidental and Oriental 1929), Surigao
Twelfth DistrictBaguio, 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

Main article: Congressional districts of the Philippines

;

Province / CityDistrictsCongress of the Philippines[*20th*](20th-congress-of-the-philippines) *2025–2028*[*19th*](19th-congress-of-the-philippines) *2022–2025*[18th](18th-congress-of-the-philippines) *2019–2022*[17th](17th-congress-of-the-philippines) *2016–2019*[16th](16th-congress-of-the-philippines) *2013–2016*[15th](15th-congress-of-the-philippines) *2010–2013*[14th](14th-congress-of-the-philippines) *2007–2010*[13th](13th-congress-of-the-philippines) *2004–2007*[12th](12th-congress-of-the-philippines) *2001–2004*[11th](11th-congress-of-the-philippines) *1998–2001*[10th](10th-congress-of-the-philippines) *1995–1998*[9th](9th-congress-of-the-philippines) *1992–1995*[8th](8th-congress-of-the-philippines) *1987–1992*[7th](7th-congress-of-the-philippines) *1970–1972*[6th](6th-congress-of-the-philippines) *1966–1969*[5th](5th-congress-of-the-philippines) *1962–1965*[4th](4th-congress-of-the-philippines) *1958–1961*[3rd](3rd-congress-of-the-philippines) *1954–1957*[2nd](2nd-congress-of-the-philippines) *1950–1953*[1st](1st-congress-of-the-philippines) *1946–1949*Total (Philippines)25425324323823523021921220920820320020011010410410210210098
AbraAbra11111111111111111111
Agusan del Norte (with Cabadbaran)Agusan del Norte12222222222221111111
Agusan del Sur (with Bayugan)Agusan del Sur22222211111111
AklanAklan22211111111111111*(see Capiz)*
Albay (with Legazpi, Ligao and Tabaco)Albay33333333333333333333
AntiqueAntique11111111111111111111
ApayaoApayao1111111111*(see Kalinga)**(see Mountain Province)*
AuroraAurora1111111111111*(see Quezon)*
BacolodBacolod1111111111111*(see Negros Occidental)*
BaguioBaguio11111111111*(see Benguet)**(see Mountain Province)*
Basilan (with Isabela and Lamitan)Basilan1111111111111*(see Zamboanga del Sur)*
Bataan (with Balanga)Bataan33222222222222111111
BatanesBatanes11111111111111111111
Batangas (with Batangas City, Santo Tomas, Lipa, and Tanauan)Batangas66664444444443333333
BenguetBenguet11111111111221*(see Mountain Province)*
BiliranBiliran11111111111*(see Leyte)*
Bohol (with Tagbilaran)Bohol33333333333333333333
Bukidnon (with Malaybalay and Valencia)Bukidnon44444333333331111111
Bulacan (with Malolos, Meycauayan and San Jose del Monte)Bulacan, San Jose del Monte77555555444422222222
ButuanButuan1*(see Agusan del Norte)*
Cagayan (with Tuguegarao)Cagayan33333333333332222222
Cagayan de OroCagayan de Oro2222222111111*(see Misamis Oriental)*
CaloocanCaloocan3322222222222*(see Rizal)*
Camarines NorteCamarines Norte22222211111111111111
Camarines Sur (with Iriga) and NagaCamarines Sur55555544444442222222
CamiguinCamiguin11111111111111*(see Misamis Oriental)*
Capiz (with Roxas)Capiz22222222222222222333
CatanduanesCatanduanes11111111111111111111
Cavite (with Bacoor, Cavite City, Dasmariñas, General Trias, Imus, Tagaytay, and Trece Martires)Cavite88877733333331111111
Cebu (with Bogo, Carcar, Danao, Naga, Talisay, and Toledo) and MandaueCebu77776666666667777777
Cebu CityCebu City2222222222222*(see Cebu)*
Cotabato (with Kidapawan)Cotabato33333222222221111111
Davao CityDavao City3333333333333*(see Davao del Sur)*11111
Davao de OroDavao de Oro2222222222*(see Davao del Norte)*
Davao del Norte (with Panabo, Samal, and Tagum)Davao del Norte222222222233311
Davao del Sur (with Digos)Davao del Sur111122222222211
Davao OccidentalDavao Occidental1111*(see Davao del Sur)*
Davao Oriental (with Mati)Davao Oriental222222222222211
Dinagat IslandsDinagat Islands1111111*(see Surigao del Norte)**(see Surigao)*
Eastern Samar (with Borongan)Eastern Samar111111111111111*(see Samar)*
General SantosGeneral Santos11*(see South Cotabato)**(see Cotabato)*
GuimarasGuimaras11111111111*(see Iloilo)*
IfugaoIfugao1111111111111*(see Mountain Province)*
IliganIligan111111*(see Lanao del Norte)*
Ilocos Norte (with Laoag and Batac)Ilocos Norte22222222222222222222
Ilocos Sur (with Candon and Vigan)Ilocos Sur22222222222222222222
Iloilo (with Passi)Iloilo55555555555555555555
Iloilo CityIloilo City1111111111111*(see Iloilo)*
Isabela (with Cauayan and Ilagan) and SantiagoIsabela66644444444441111111
Kalinga (with Tabuk)Kalinga1111111111111*(see Mountain Province)*
La Union (with San Fernando)La Union22222222222222222222
Laguna (with Biñan, Cabuyao, Calamba, San Pablo, San Pedro, and Santa Rosa)Laguna, Biñan, Calamba, Santa Rosa77654444444442222222
Lanao del NorteLanao del Norte22222222222221111111
Lanao del Sur (with Marawi)Lanao del Sur2222222222222111
Lapu-LapuLapu-Lapu111111*(see Cebu)*
Las PiñasLas Piñas1111111111111*(see Rizal)*
MuntinlupaMuntinlupa1111111111
Leyte (with Baybay), Ormoc, and TaclobanLeyte55555555555554445555
Maguindanao del Norte and Cotabato CityMaguindanao del Norte1122222222222*(see Cotabato)*
Maguindanao del SurMaguindanao del Sur11
MakatiMakati2222222222111*(see Rizal)*
MalabonMalabon1111111111111
NavotasNavotas111111
MandaluyongMandaluyong1111111111111
San JuanSan Juan11111111111
MandaueMandaue11*(see Cebu)*
ManilaManila66666666666664444442
MarikinaMarikina2222222111111*(see Rizal)*
MarinduqueMarinduque11111111111111111111
Masbate (with Masbate City)Masbate33333333333331111111
Misamis Occidental (with Oroquieta, Ozamiz, and Tangub)Misamis Occidental22222222222221111111
Misamis Oriental (with El Salvador and Gingoog)Misamis Oriental22222222222221111111
Mountain ProvinceMountain Province11111111111111333333
Negros Occidental (with Bago, Cadiz, Escalante, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, La Carlota, Sagay, San Carlos, Silay, Sipalay, Talisay, and Victorias)Negros Occidental66666666666663333333
Negros Oriental (with Bais, Bayawan, Canlaon, Dumaguete, Guihulngan, and Tanjay)Negros Oriental33333333333332222222
Northern SamarNorthern Samar222222222222211*(see Samar)*
Nueva Ecija (with Cabanatuan, Gapan, Muñoz, Palayan and San Jose)Nueva Ecija44444444444442222222
Nueva VizcayaNueva Vizcaya11111111111111111111
Occidental MindoroOccidental Mindoro11111111111111111111
Oriental Mindoro (with Calapan)Oriental Mindoro2222222222222111111
Palawan and Puerto PrincesaPalawan33333222222221111111
Pampanga (with Mabalacat and San Fernando) and Angeles CityPampanga44444444444442222222
Pangasinan (with Alaminos, San Carlos, and Urdaneta) and DagupanPangasinan66666666666665555555
ParañaqueParañaque2222222211111*(see Rizal)*
PasayPasay1111111111111
PasigPasig1111111111111
Quezon and LucenaQuezon44444444444442222222
Quezon CityQuezon City6666644444444*(see Rizal)*
QuirinoQuirino1111111111111*(see Nueva Vizcaya)*
Rizal (with Antipolo)Rizal, Antipolo66444444332222222222
RomblonRomblon11111111111111111111
Samar (with Calbayog and Catbalogan)Samar22222222222221133333
SaranganiSarangani11111111111*(see South Cotabato)**(see Cotabato)*
SiquijorSiquijor1111111111111*(see Negros Oriental)*
Sorsogon (with Sorsogon City)Sorsogon22222222222222222222
South Cotabato (with Koronadal)South Cotabato322222222223311*(see Cotabato)*
Southern Leyte (with Maasin)Southern Leyte221111111111111*(see Leyte)*
Sultan Kudarat (with Tacurong)Sultan Kudarat2222222111111*(see Cotabato)*
SuluSulu22222222222221111111
Surigao del Norte (with Surigao City)Surigao del Norte22222222222221111111
Surigao del Sur (with Bislig and Tandag)Surigao del Sur2222222222222111
Taguig and PaterosTaguig and Pateros–Taguig2222222111111*(see Rizal)*
Tarlac (with Tarlac City)Tarlac33333333333332222222
Tawi-TawiTawi-Tawi1111111111111*(see Sulu)*
ValenzuelaValenzuela2222222221111*(see Bulacan)*
Zambales and OlongapoZambales22222222222221111111
Zamboanga CityZamboanga City2222222111111*(see Zamboanga del Sur)*11
Zamboanga del Norte (with Dapitan and Dipolog)Zamboanga del Norte333333333333311111
Zamboanga del Sur (with Pagadian)Zamboanga del Sur222222222333311111
Zamboanga SibugayZamboanga Sibugay222222211*(see Zamboanga del Sur)*

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. 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

References

References

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