The legislative districts of the Philippines are the divisions of the Philippines' provinces and cities for representation in the House of Representatives. 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.
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 City |
| 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 |
City of 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 (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 |
City of 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 |
Representative districts
Increased representation; Decreased representation
| Province/City | Districts | Congress of the Philippines |
| 16th | 15th | 14th | 13th | 12th | 11th | 10th | 9th | 8th |
| Abra | Abra | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Agusan del Norte and Butuan | Agusan del Norte | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Agusan del Sur with Bayugan | Agusan del Sur | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Aklan | Aklan | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Albay with Legazpi | Albay | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Antique | Antique | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Apayao | Apayao | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Kalinga | Kalinga | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Aurora | Aurora | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Bacolod | Bacolod | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Baguio | Baguio | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | (see Benguet) |
| Basilan with Isabela | Basilan | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Bataan | Bataan | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Batanes | Batanes | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Batangas with Batangas City, Lipa and Tanauan | Batangas | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Benguet | Benguet | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Biliran | Biliran | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | (see Leyte) |
| Bohol with Tagbilaran | Bohol | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Bukidnon with Malaybalay and Valencia | Bukidnon | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Bulacan with Malolos, Meycauayan and San Jose del Monte | Bulacan, San Jose del Monte | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Cagayan with Tuguegarao | Cagayan | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Cagayan de Oro | Cagayan de Oro | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Caloocan | Caloocan | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Camarines Norte | Camarines Norte | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Camarines Sur with Iriga and Naga | Camarines Sur | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Camiguin | Camiguin | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Capiz with Roxas | Capiz | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Catanduanes | Catanduanes | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Cavite with Cavite City, Dasmariñas, Tagaytay and Trece Martires | Cavite (includes Dasmariñas (Cavite–4th) | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Cebu with Talisay, Toledo, and Mandaue | Cebu | 8 |
7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Cebu City | Cebu City | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Compostela Valley | Compostela Valley | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | (see Davao del Norte) |
| Cotabato with Kidapawan | Cotabato | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Davao City | Davao City | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Davao del Norte with Panabo, Samal and Tagum | Davao del Norte | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Davao Oriental with Mati | Davao Oriental | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Davao del Sur with Digos | Davao del Sur | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Dinagat Islands | Dinagat Islands | 1 | 1 | 1 | (see Surigao del Norte) |
| Eastern Samar with Borongan | Eastern Samar | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Guimaras | Guimaras | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | (see Iloilo) |
| Ifugao | Ifugao | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Iligan | Iligan | 1 | 1 | (see Lanao del Norte) |
| Ilocos Norte with Laoag | Ilocos Norte | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Ilocos Sur with Candon and Vigan | Ilocos Sur | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Iloilo with Passi | Iloilo | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Iloilo City | Iloilo City | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Isabela with Cauayan and Santiago | Isabela | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| La Union with San Fernando | La Union | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Laguna with Biñan, Cabuyao, Calamba, San Pablo, San Pedro and Santa Rosa | Laguna | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Lanao del Norte | Lanao del Norte | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lanao del Sur with Marawi | Lanao del Sur | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lapu-Lapu | Lapu-Lapu | 1 | 1 | (see Cebu) |
| Las Piñas | Las Piñas | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Muntinlupa | Muntinlupa | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Leyte with Ormoc, Baybay and Tacloban | Leyte | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Maguindanao and Cotabato City | Maguindanao | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Makati | Makati | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Malabon | Malabon | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Navotas | Navotas | 1 | 1 |
| Mandaluyong | Mandaluyong | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| San Juan | San Juan | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Manila | Manila | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Marikina | Marikina | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Marinduque | Marinduque | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Masbate | Masbate | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Misamis Occidental with Oroquieta, Ozamiz and Tangub | Misamis Occidental | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Misamis Oriental with Gingoog | Misamis Oriental | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Mountain Province | Mountain Province | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Negros Occidental with Bago, Cadiz, Escalante, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, La Carlota, Sagay, San Carlos, Silay, Sipalay, Talisay and Victorias | Negros Occidental | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Negros Oriental with Bais, Bayawan, Canlaon, Dumaguete and Tanjay | Negros Oriental | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Northern Samar | Northern Samar | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Nueva Ecija with Gapan, Muñoz, Palayan and San Jose | Nueva Ecija | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Nueva Vizcaya | Nueva Vizcaya | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Occidental Mindoro | Occidental Mindoro | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Oriental Mindoro with Calapan | Oriental Mindoro | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Palawan and Puerto Princesa | Palawan | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Pampanga with San Fernando, and Angeles | Pampanga | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Pangasinan with Alaminos, San Carlos and Urdaneta, and Dagupan | Pangasinan | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Parañaque | Parañaque | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Pasay | Pasay | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Pasig | Pasig | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Quezon and Lucena | Quezon | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Quezon City | Quezon City | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Quirino | Quirino | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Rizal | Rizal, Antipolo | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Romblon | Romblon | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Samar with Calbayog and Catbalogan | Samar | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Sarangani | Sarangani | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | (see South Cotabato) |
| Siquijor | Siquijor | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sorsogon with Sorsogon City | Sorsogon | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| South Cotabato with Koronadal, and General Santos | South Cotabato | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Southern Leyte with Maasin | Southern Leyte | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sultan Kudarat with Tacurong | Sultan Kudarat | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sulu | Sulu | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Surigao del Norte with Surigao City | Surigao del Norte | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Surigao del Sur with Bislig | Surigao del Sur | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Taguig and Pateros | Taguig and Pateros–Taguig | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Tarlac with Tarlac City | Tarlac | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Tawi-Tawi | Tawi-Tawi | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Valenzuela | Valenzuela | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Zambales and Olongapo | Zambales | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Zamboanga City | Zamboanga City | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Zamboanga del Norte with Dapitan, and Dipolog | Zamboanga del Norte | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Zamboanga del Sur with Pagadian | Zamboanga del Sur | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Zamboanga Sibugay | Zamboanga Sibugay | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | (see Zamboanga del Sur) |
| Total Philippines | 234 | 229 | 219 | 212 | 209 | 208 | 203 | 200 | 200 |
See also
References
