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 the 12th senatorial district, elected two senators to the Senate of the Philippines. The senators representing the twelfth senatorial district were appointed by the governor-general. Since 1941, when the Senate was restored, all 24 senators have been elected at large.

Senatorial district Provinces and/or cities First District Abra (re-established in 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 in 1920), Mindoro, Tayabas Sixth District Albay, Ambos Camarines (split into Norte and Sur in 1917), Sorsogon Seventh District Capiz, Iloilo, Romblon (re-established in 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 in 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

Province / City Districts Congress of the Philippines20th 19th 18th 17th 16th 15th 14th 13th 12th 11th 10th 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st AbraAbra 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1Agusan del Norte Agusan del Norte1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 11 1 1 1 1 1Agusan del Sur Agusan del Sur2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1AklanAklan2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1Albay Albay3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3AntiqueAntique1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1ApayaoApayao1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 AuroraAurora1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1BacolodBacolod1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1BaguioBaguio1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Basilan Basilan1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1Bataan Bataan3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1BatanesBatanes1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1Batangas Batangas6 6 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3BenguetBenguet1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1BiliranBiliran1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1Bohol Bohol3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3Bukidnon Bukidnon4 4 4 44 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1Bulacan Bulacan, San Jose del Monte7 7 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2ButuanButuan1Cagayan Cagayan3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2Cagayan de OroCagayan de Oro2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1CaloocanCaloocan3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Camarines NorteCamarines Norte2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1Camarines Sur and NagaCamarines Sur5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2CamiguinCamiguin1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1Capiz Capiz2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3CatanduanesCatanduanes1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1Cavite Cavite8 8 8 7 7 7 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1Cebu and MandaueCebu7 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 7Cebu CityCebu City2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2Cotabato Cotabato3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 21111111Davao CityDavao City3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 311111Davao de OroDavao de Oro2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Davao del Norte Davao del Norte2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 31 1 Davao del Sur Davao del Sur1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 21 1 Davao Occidental Davao Occidental1 1 1 1 Davao Oriental Davao Oriental2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 21 1 Dinagat Islands Dinagat Islands 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Eastern Samar Eastern Samar1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 General Santos General Santos1 1 Guimaras Guimaras1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Ifugao Ifugao1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Iligan Iligan1 1 1 1 1 1 Ilocos Norte Ilocos Norte2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 22222222 Ilocos Sur Ilocos Sur2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 22222222 Iloilo Iloilo5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 55555555 Iloilo City Iloilo City1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Isabela and Santiago Isabela6 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 1111111 Kalinga Kalinga1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 La Union La Union2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 22222222 Laguna Laguna, Biñan, Calamba, Santa Rosa7 7 6 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 42222222 Lanao del Norte Lanao del Norte2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 211 11111 Lanao del Sur Lanao del Sur2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 211 1 Lapu-Lapu Lapu-Lapu1 1 1 1 1 1 Las Piñas Las Piñas1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Muntinlupa Muntinlupa1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Leyte , Ormoc, and Tacloban Leyte5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 544 45555 Maguindanao del Norte and Cotabato City Maguindanao del Norte1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Maguindanao del Sur Maguindanao del Sur1 1 Makati Makati2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 Malabon Malabon1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Navotas Navotas1 1 1 1 1 1 Mandaluyong Mandaluyong1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 San Juan San Juan1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Mandaue Mandaue1 1 Manila Manila6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 44444 42 Marikina Marikina2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 Marinduque Marinduque1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11111111 Masbate Masbate3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 31111111 Misamis Occidental Misamis Occidental2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 21111111 Misamis Oriental Misamis Oriental2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 21111111 Mountain Province Mountain Province1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 333333 Negros Occidental Negros Occidental6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 3333333 Negros Oriental Negros Oriental3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2222222 Northern SamarNorthern Samar2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 21 1 Nueva Ecija Nueva Ecija4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 42222222 Nueva VizcayaNueva Vizcaya1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11111111 Occidental MindoroOccidental Mindoro1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11111111 Oriental Mindoro Oriental Mindoro2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2111111 Palawan and Puerto PrincesaPalawan3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 21111111 Pampanga and Angeles City Pampanga4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 42222222 Pangasinan and Dagupan Pangasinan6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 65555555 Parañaque Parañaque2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 Pasay Pasay1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Pasig Pasig1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Quezon and Lucena Quezon4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 42222222 Quezon City Quezon City6 6 6 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Quirino Quirino1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rizal Rizal, Antipolo6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 22222222 Romblon Romblon1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11111111 Samar Samar2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 21 133333 Sarangani Sarangani1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Siquijor Siquijor1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Sorsogon Sorsogon2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 22222222 South Cotabato South Cotabato3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 1 1 Southern Leyte Southern Leyte2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 Sultan Kudarat Sultan Kudarat2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 Sulu Sulu2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 21111111 Surigao del Norte Surigao del Norte2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 211 11111 Surigao del Sur Surigao del Sur2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 211 1 Taguig and Pateros Taguig and Pateros–Taguig2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 Tarlac Tarlac3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 32222222 Tawi-Tawi Tawi-Tawi1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Valenzuela Valenzuela2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 Zambales and Olongapo Zambales2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 21111111 Zamboanga City Zamboanga City2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 111 Zamboanga del Norte Zamboanga del Norte3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 31111 1 Zamboanga del Sur Zamboanga del Sur2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 31111 1 Zamboanga Sibugay Zamboanga Sibugay2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 Total (Philippines) 254 253 243 238 235 230 219 212 209 208 203 200 200 11010410410210210098

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

See also Administrative divisions of the Philippines Congress of the Philippines Senate of the Philippines House of Representatives of the Philippines

References