Legislative districts of the Philippines

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

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.

  Increased representation;   Decreased representation

Province / City Districts 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 111111111111 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Agusan del Norte (with Cabadbaran) and Butuan Agusan del Norte 2222222222221 1 1 1 1 1 1
Agusan del Sur (with Bayugan) Agusan del Sur 2222211111111
Aklan Aklan 221111111111 1 1 11 (see Capiz)
Albay (with Legazpi, Ligao and Tabaco) Albay 333333333333 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Antique Antique 111111111111 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
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 Sulu)
Bataan (with Balanga) Bataan 222222222222 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Batanes Batanes 111111111111 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Batangas (with Batangas City, Santo Tomas, Lipa, and Tanauan) Batangas 666444444444 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Benguet Benguet 111111111122 1(see Mountain Province)
Biliran Biliran 1111111111(see Leyte)
Bohol (with Tagbilaran) Bohol 333333333333 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Bukidnon (with Malaybalay and Valencia) Bukidnon 444433333333 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Bulacan (with Malolos, Meycauayan and San Jose del Monte) Bulacan, San Jose del Monte 555555544444 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Cagayan (with Tuguegarao) Cagayan 333333333333 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Cagayan de Oro Cagayan de Oro 222222111111 (see Misamis Oriental)
Caloocan Caloocan 222222222222 (see Rizal)
Camarines Norte Camarines Norte 222221111111 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Camarines Sur (with Iriga) and Naga Camarines Sur 555554444444 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Camiguin Camiguin 1111111111111 (see Misamis Oriental)
Capiz (with Roxas) Capiz 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 22 3 3 3
Catanduanes Catanduanes 111111111111 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Cavite (with Bacoor, Cavite City, Dasmariñas, General Trias, Imus, Tagaytay, and Trece Martires) Cavite 887773333333 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Cebu (with Bogo, Carcar, Danao, Naga, Talisay, and Toledo) and Mandaue Cebu 777776666666 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
Cebu City Cebu City 222222222222 (see Cebu)
Cotabato (with Kidapawan) Cotabato 333322222222 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Davao City Davao City 333333333333 (see Davao del Sur) 1 1 1 1 1
Davao de Oro Davao de Oro 222222222(see Davao del Norte)
Davao del Norte (with Panabo, Samal, and Tagum) Davao del Norte 222222222333 11
Davao del Sur (with Digos) Davao del Sur 111222222222 11
Davao Occidental Davao Occidental 111(see Davao del Sur)
Davao Oriental (with Mati) Davao Oriental 222222222222 11
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 222222222222 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Ilocos Sur (with Candon and Vigan) Ilocos Sur 222222222222 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Iloilo (with Passi) Iloilo 555555555555 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Iloilo City Iloilo City 111111111111 (see Iloilo)
Isabela (with Cauayan and Ilagan) and Santiago Isabela 6644444444441 1 1 1 1 1 1
Kalinga (with Tabuk) Kalinga 111111111111 (see Mountain Province)
La Union (with San Fernando) La Union 222222222222 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Laguna (with Biñan, Cabuyao, Calamba, San Pablo, San Pedro, and Santa Rosa) Laguna, Biñan, Calamba, Santa Rosa 765444444444 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Lanao del Norte Lanao del Norte 222222222222 1 11 1 1 1 1
Lanao del Sur (with Marawi) Lanao del Sur 222222222222 1 11
Lapu-Lapu Lapu-Lapu 11111(see Cebu)
Las Piñas Las Piñas 111111111111 (see Rizal)
Muntinlupa Muntinlupa 111111111
Leyte (with Baybay), Ormoc, and Tacloban Leyte 555555555555 4 44 5 5 5 5
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 6666666666664 4 4 4 44 2
Marikina Marikina 222222111111 (see Rizal)
Marinduque Marinduque 111111111111 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Masbate (with Masbate City) Masbate 333333333333 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Misamis Occidental (with Oroquieta, Ozamiz, and Tangub) Misamis Occidental 222222222222 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Misamis Oriental (with El Salvador and Gingoog) Misamis Oriental 222222222222 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Mountain Province Mountain Province 11111111111113 3 3 3 3 3
Negros Occidental (with Bago, Cadiz, Escalante, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, La Carlota, Sagay, San Carlos, Silay, Sipalay, Talisay, and Victorias) Negros Occidental 6666666666663 3 3 3 3 3 3
Negros Oriental (with Bais, Bayawan, Canlaon, Dumaguete, Guihulngan, and Tanjay) Negros Oriental 3333333333332 2 2 2 2 2 2
Northern SamarNorthern Samar 222222222222 11 (see Samar)
Nueva Ecija (with Cabanatuan, Gapan, Muñoz, Palayan and San Jose) Nueva Ecija 444444444444 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Nueva VizcayaNueva Vizcaya 111111111111 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Occidental MindoroOccidental Mindoro 111111111111 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Oriental Mindoro (with Calapan) Oriental Mindoro 222222222222 1 1 1 1 1 1
Palawan and Puerto PrincesaPalawan 333322222222 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Pampanga (with Mabalacat and San Fernando) and Angeles Pampanga 444444444444 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Pangasinan (with Alaminos, San Carlos, and Urdaneta) and Dagupan Pangasinan 666666666666 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Parañaque Parañaque 222222211111 (see Rizal)
Pasay Pasay 111111111111
Pasig Pasig 111111111111
Quezon and Lucena Quezon 444444444444 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Quezon City Quezon City 666644444444 (see Rizal)
Quirino Quirino 111111111111 (see Nueva Vizcaya)
Rizal (with Antipolo) Rizal, Antipolo 444444433222 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Romblon Romblon 111111111111 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Samar (with Calbayog and Catbalogan) Samar 222222222222 11 3 3 3 3 3
Sarangani Sarangani 1111111111(see South Cotabato) (see Cotabato)
Siquijor Siquijor 111111111111 (see Negros Oriental)
Sorsogon (with Sorsogon City) Sorsogon 222222222222 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
South Cotabato (with Koronadal) South Cotabato 22222222223311 (see Cotabato)
Southern Leyte (with Maasin) Southern Leyte 211111111111 11 (see Leyte)
Sultan Kudarat (with Tacurong) Sultan Kudarat 222222111111 (see Cotabato)
Sulu Sulu 222222222222 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Surigao del Norte (with Surigao City) Surigao del Norte 222222222222 1 11 1 1 1 1
Surigao del Sur (with Bislig and Tandag) Surigao del Sur 222222222222 1 11
Taguig and Pateros Taguig and Pateros–Taguig 222222111111 (see Rizal)
Tarlac (with Tarlac City) Tarlac 333333333333 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Tawi-Tawi Tawi-Tawi 111111111111 (see Sulu)
Valenzuela Valenzuela 222222221111 (see Bulacan)
Zambales and Olongapo Zambales 222222222222 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Zamboanga City Zamboanga City 222222111111 (see Zamboanga del Sur) 1 1
Zamboanga del Norte (with Dapitan and Dipolog) Zamboanga del Norte 333333333333 1 1 1 11
Zamboanga del Sur (with Pagadian) Zamboanga del Sur 222222223333 1 1 1 11
Zamboanga Sibugay Zamboanga Sibugay 22222211(see Zamboanga del Sur)
Total (Philippines) 247243238235230219212209208203200200 110 104 104 102 102 100 98

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 legislative districts used to determine representation in the national House of Representatives.[1] However the exact parliamentary districts are yet to be determined and the current composition of the parliament which is interim in nature and all members are appointed by the President.

Representation via provincial boards, known as Sangguniang Panlalawigan are also via legislative 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, and in barangays through their Sangguniang Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan. At-large representation is always via plurality-at-large voting

See also

References

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