The Batanes Provincial Board is the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial legislature) of the Philippine province of Batanes.
Most of its members are elected via plurality-at-large voting: the province is divided into two districts, with the first having five seats and the second having three seats. A voter votes up to five names in the first district and up to three names in the second district; the top candidates are then elected to fill the seats assigned to each district. The vice governor is the ex officio presiding officer, and only votes to break ties. The vice governor is elected via the plurality voting system province-wide.
Aside from the regular members, the board also includes the provincial federation presidents of the Liga ng mga Barangay (ABC, from its old name "Association of Barangay Captains"), the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK, youth councils) and the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) as ex officio members. They join the board once they are elected as president of their respective league or federation shortly after the start of their terms following the regular local elections (in the case of PCL) or the barangay and SK elections (in the case of ABC and SK).
In addition, the province's indigenous peoples community sends to the board a sectoral member, the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR), in accordance with national guidelines set by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples pursuant to Republic Act No. 8371, as well as with local guidelines agreed upon by the IP community.
District apportionment The districts used in the appropriation of members is not coextensive with the Batanes's at-large congressional district. Unlike congressional representation which is at-large, Batanes is divided into two districts for representation in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, with the capital Basco and neighboring Mahatao constituting the first district, and the rest of the towns (Itbayat, Ivana, Sabtang, and Uyugan) forming the second district.
In 2025, the first district gained two additional seats after the Department of Finance upgraded the province's income classification to 4th class, from 5th class. Elections No. of seats per district Ex officio seats Reserved seats Total seats1st 2nd2004–2025 3 3 3 1 102025–present533112
List of members Current members These are the members after the 2023 barangay and SK elections and the 2025 local elections.
The names of regular members are listed in order of their rank in the local election in their respective district.
Vice Governor: Jonathan Enrique V. Nanud Jr. (PFP) – Presiding Officer
SeatBoard memberPartyTermnumberStart of termEnd of term1st districtRoel NicolasLiberal2June 30, 2022June 30, 2028Anastacia ViolaLiberal2June 30, 2022June 30, 2028Josephine CastilloPFP1June 30, 2025June 30, 2028Benny FajardoLiberal1June 30, 2025June 30, 2028John Dave AblatPFP1June 30, 2025June 30, 20282nd districtLeonardo HostalleroPFP1June 30, 2025June 30, 2028Cleo GonzalesIndependent1June 30, 2025June 30, 2028Francis Byron PeraltaNPC2June 30, 2022June 30, 2028ABCBernardo MerneloNonpartisan1January 13, 2024January 1, 2026PCLFrancisco CastilloLiberal1September 9, 2022June 30, 2028SKVacantNonpartisan–January 1, 2026IPMRVicenta HidalgoNonpartisan1
Past members
Vice Governor Electionyear Name Party1992 Edmundo Puño Liberal/PDP–Laban1995 Elena Alcantara Lakas–NUCD1998Constante Castillejos2001Liberal2004 2007 William Agsunod 2010 Ferdinand Elica 2013 Ronald Aguto 20162019Ignacio VillaLiberal2022 2025 Jonathan Enriquez V. Nanud Jr.
1st District
Municipalities: Basco, Mahatao Population (2020): 11,220
Electionyear Member (party) Member (party) Member (party)1992 Severino Hernandez(LDP) Agustin Raterta(Liberal) Catalina Joves(LDP)1995 Alexander Argonza(Lakas–NUCD) Valerio Tabut(Liberal) Catalina Joves(Lakas–NUCD)1998 Manuel Viola(Liberal) Tomas Estamo, Jr.(Liberal)2001 Amada Fabi(Liberal) Efren Lizardo(Lakas–NUCD)2004 Ferdinand Elica(Liberal) Orlando Hontomin(Liberal)2007 Ferdinand Elica(Lakas) Alexander Argonza(Lakas) Albert Calagui(Lakas)2010 Flinton Abad(Liberal) Florante Castillo(Liberal)2013 Efren Lizardo(Independent) Alexander Argonza(Independent)2016 Evelyn Maduro(Liberal) Edmundo Puño(NPC) Juan Redondo(UNA)2019 Ferdinand Elica(NPC) Juan Redondo(NPC)2022 Roel Nicolas(Liberal) Anastacia Viola(Liberal)
2nd District
Municipalities: Itbayat, Ivana, Sabtang, Uyugan Population (2020): 7,611
Electionyear Member (party) Member (party) Member (party)1992 Redencion Castaño(Independent/LDP) Augustus Cataluña(LP/PDP) Nestor Capito(LP/PDP)1995 Rosario Batin(Liberal) Augustus Cataluña(Liberal) Charles Ibañes I(Lakas–NUCD)1998 Victorio Balbao(Liberal) Migdonio Faberes(Liberal) Charles Ibañes I(Liberal)2001 Milagros Juliet Abas(Lakas–NUCD) Ronald Aguto(Liberal)2004 Milagros Juliet Abas(Liberal) Romulo Cielo(Liberal) Ignacio Villa(Liberal)2007 Milagros Juliet Abas(Lakas) Rogelio Delapa(Lakas)2010 Ramoncito Imperial(Liberal) Rogelio Delapa(Nacionalista) Ignacio Villa(Nacionalista)2013 Milagros Juliet Abas(Independent) Rogelio Delapa(Liberal) Juliet Cataluña(Liberal)2016 Milagros Juliet Abas(UNA) Maxilindo Emilio Babalo(Liberal) Ignacio Villa(Liberal)2019 Milagros Juliet Abas(NPC) Romeo Acebes(Liberal) Juliet Cataluña(Liberal)2022 Francis Byron Peralta(Lakas) Wilfredo Cabitac(PDR)
Liga ng mga Barangay member Electionyear ABC/LBPresident Barangay Captain of2018 Benigno Cobico (showing list of ex officio members) Bgy. Kayhuvokan, Basco
Philippine Councilors League member ElectionyearPCLPresident Councilor in2019Will Lee Gabotero(Liberal)Basco2022Francisco Castillo(Liberal)Basco
Sangguniang Kabataan member ElectionyearSKPresident SK Chairperson of2018Argel HortizBgy. Kayuganan (Pob.), Uyugan2023John Dave Ablat*Bgy. Uyoy, Mahatao * Left office on June 30, 2025 upon his assumption as elected regular member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative IP RepresentativeVicenta Hidalgo
References