18th Congress of the Philippines

18th Congress of the Philippines

July 22, 2019 – 2022
President	Rodrigo Duterte (PDP–Laban)
Vice President	Leni Robredo (Liberal)
Senate
Senate President	Tito Sotto (NPC)
Senate President pro tempore	Ralph Recto (Nacionalista)
Majority leader	Juan Miguel Zubiri (Independent)
Minority leader	Franklin Drilon (Liberal)
House of Representatives
House Speaker	Alan Peter Cayetano (2019–2020) (Nacionalista) Lord Allan Jay Velasco (2020) (PDP–Laban)
Deputy Speakers	Ferdinand Hernandez (PDP–Laban) Evelina Escudero (NPC) Loren Legarda (NPC) Conrado Estrella III (Abono) Prospero Pichay Jr. (Lakas) Roberto Puno (NUP) Eddie Villanueva (CIBAC) Neptali Gonzales II (NUP) Rosemarie Arenas (PDP–Laban) Rodante Marcoleta (SAGIP) Henry Oaminal (Nacionalista) Pablo John Garcia (NUP/One Cebu) Vilma Santos-Recto (Nacionalista) Deogracias Victor Savellano (Nacionalista) Mujiv Hataman (Liberal Party) Mikee Romero (1-PACMAN) Paulino Salvador Leachon (PDP–Laban) Lito Atienza (Buhay) Rufus Rodriguez (CDP) Arnolfo Teves Jr. (PDP–Laban) Bienvenido Abante (NUP/Asenso Manileño) Weslie Gatchalian (NPC) Eric Martinez (PDP–Laban) Juan Pablo Bondoc (PDP–Laban) Bernadette Herrera-Dy (Bagong Henerasyon) Divina Grace Yu (PDP–Laban) Rogelio Pacquiao (PDP–Laban) Kristine Singson-Meehan (Bileg) Strike Revilla (NUP) Isidro Ungab (HNP) Abraham Tolentino (NUP) Camille Villar (Nacionalista) Marlyn Alonte-Naguiat (PDP–Laban)
Majority leader	Martin Romualdez (Lakas)
Minority leader	Joseph Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod)
Members	302
◀ 17th (2016) 19th (2022) ▶

The Eighteenth Congress of the Philippines (Filipino: Ikalabingwalong Kongreso ng Pilipinas) is the current meeting of the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Senate and House of Representatives. The convention of the 18th Congress was followed by the 2019 Senate election, which replaced half of the Senate membership, and the 2019 House of Representatives elections which elected the entire membership of the House of Representatives.

The House of Representatives meets in Batasang Pambansa Complex and the Senate meets in the GSIS Building from July 22, 2019 to a certain date in 2022, from the fourth to sixth year of the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte; this will be the end of tenure for senators elected in 2016. The 18th Congress was officially opened by President Duterte together with the joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Leadership[]

Senate[]

• Senate President:
  • Tito Sotto (NPC), July 22, 2019–present
• Senate President pro tempore:
  • Ralph Recto (Nacionalista), July 22, 2019–present
• Majority Floor Leader:
  • Juan Miguel Zubiri (Independent), July 22, 2019–present
• Minority Floor Leader:
  • Franklin Drilon (Liberal), July 22, 2019–present

House of Representatives[]

• Speakers:
  • Alan Peter Cayetano (Taguig–1st/Pateros, Nacionalista), July 22, 2019 – October 13, 2020
  • Lord Allan Jay Velasco (Marinduque, PDP–Laban), October 13, 2020–present
• Deputy Speakers:
  • Paolo Duterte (Davao City–1st, NUP/HTL), July 22, 2019 – October 13, 2020
  • Ferdinand Hernandez (South Cotabato–2nd, PDP–Laban), July 22, 2019–present
  • Evelina Escudero (Sorsogon–1st, NPC), July 22, 2019–present
  • Loren Legarda (Antique–Lone, NPC), July 22, 2019–present
  • Conrado Estrella III (Abono), July 22, 2019–present
  • Prospero Pichay Jr. (Surigao del Sur–1st, Lakas), July 22, 2019–present
  • Roberto Puno (Antipolo City–1st, NUP), July 22, 2019–present
  • Eddie Villanueva (CIBAC), July 22, 2019–present
  • Aurelio D. Gonzales Jr. (Pampanga–3rd, PDP–Laban), July 22, 2019 – December 7, 2020
  • Johnny Pimentel (Surigao del Sur–2nd, PDP–Laban), July 22, 2019 – December 7, 2020
  • Luis Raymund Villafuerte (Camarines Sur–2nd, Nacionalista), July 22, 2019 – October 14, 2020
  • Raneo Abu (Batangas–2nd, Nacionalista), July 22, 2019 – November 18, 2020
  • Neptali Gonzales II (Mandaluyong–Lone, PDP–Laban), July 22, 2019–present
  • Danilo Fernandez (Laguna–1st, PDP–Laban), July 22, 2019 – November 18, 2020
  • Rosemarie Arenas (Pangasinan–3rd, PDP–Laban), July 29, 2019–present
  • Rodante Marcoleta (SAGIP), July 29, 2019–present
  • Henry Oaminal (Misamis Occidental–2nd, Nacionalista), July 29, 2019–present
  • Pablo John Garcia (Cebu–3rd, NUP/One Cebu), July 29, 2019–present
  • Vilma Santos-Recto (Batangas–6th (Lipa), Nacionalista), August 13, 2019–present
  • Deogracias Victor Savellano (Ilocos Sur–1st, Nacionalista), August 13, 2019–present
  • Mujiv Hataman (Basilan–Lone, Liberal), August 13, 2019–present
  • Mikee Romero (1-PACMAN), August 13, 2019 – October 2, 2020; October 14, 2020–present
  • Fredenil Castro (Capiz–2nd, Lakas), October 2, 2020 – November 18, 2020
  • Paulino Salvador Leachon (Oriental Mindoro–1st, PDP–Laban), October 14, 2020–present
  • Lito Atienza (Buhay), November 18, 2020–present
  • Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro–2nd, CDP), November 18, 2020–present
  • Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Negros Oriental–3rd, PDP–Laban), December 7, 2020–present
  • Benny Abante (Manila–6th, NUP/Asenso Manileño), December 7, 2020–present
  • Weslie Gatchalian (Valenzuela–1st, NPC), December 7, 2020–present
  • Eric Martinez (Valenzuela–2nd, PDP–Laban), December 7, 2020–present
  • Juan Pablo Bondoc (Pampanga–4th, PDP–Laban), December 7, 2020–present
  • Bernadette Herrera-Dy (Bagong Henerasyon), December 7, 2020–present
  • Divina Grace Yu (Zamboanga del Sur–1st, PDP–Laban), December 7, 2020–present
  • Rogelio Pacquiao (Sarangani–Lone, PDP–Laban), December 7, 2020–present
  • Kristine Singson-Meehan (Ilocos Sur–2nd, Bileg), December 7, 2020–present
  • Strike Revilla (Cavite–2nd (Bacoor), NUP), December 14, 2020–present
  • Isidro Ungab (Davao City–3rd, HNP), December 16, 2020–present
  • Abraham Tolentino (Cavite–8th, NUP), December 16, 2020–present
  • Camille Villar (Las Piñas–Lone, Nacionalista), February 2, 2021–present
  • Marlyn Alonte-Naguiat (Biñan–Lone, PDP–Laban), March 25, 2021–present
• Majority Floor Leader:
  • Martin Romualdez (Leyte–1st, Lakas), July 22, 2019–present
• Minority Floor Leader:
  • Benny Abante (Manila–6th, NUP/Asenso Manileño), July 22, 2019 – October 16, 2020
  • Joseph Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod), October 19, 2020–present

Sessions[]

• First regular session: July 22, 2019 – June 5, 2020
  • July 22–October 4, 2019
  • October 5–November 3, 2019
  • November 4–December 20, 2019
  • January 20–March 13, 2020
  • March 14–May 3, 2020
    • First special session: March 23, 2020
  • May 4–June 5, 2020
• Second regular session: July 27, 2020 – June 4, 2021
  • July 27–October 12, 2020
    • Second special session: October 13–16, 2020 ^[1]
  • November 16–December 18, 2020
  • January 18–March 26, 2021
  • May 17–June 4, 2021
• Third regular session July 26, 2021 – June 3, 2022
  • July 26–September 30, 2021
  • November 8-December 17, 2021
  • January 17-February 4, 2022
  • May 23-June 3, 2022

Meeting places[]

• Senate: GSIS Building, Pasay
• House of Representatives: Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City
  • Batangas City Convention Center, Batangas City (January 22, 2020)^[2]
  • Celebrity Sports Plaza, Quezon City (October 12, 2020)^[3]

Composition[]

Both chambers of Congress are divided into parties and blocs. While members are elected via parties, blocs are the basis for committee memberships. Only members of the majority and minority blocs are accorded committee memberships. This is how blocs are determined:

• Majority bloc: All members who voted for the Senate President or Speaker during the Senate presidential or speakership election.
• Minority bloc: All members who voted for the second-placed candidate during the Senate presidential or speakership election.
• Independent minority bloc: All members who did not vote for the winning or second-best nominee during the Senate presidential or speakership election.
• Independent bloc: All members who abstained from voting during the Senate presidential or speakership election.
• Not a member of any bloc: All members who have not voted during the Senate presidential or speakership election.

Senate[] Party Maj Min Total % Nacionalista 4 0 4 16.67% Liberal 0 3 3 12.50% NPC 3 0 3 12.50% PDP–Laban 3 0 3 12.50% Akbayan 0 1 1 4.17% Bagumbayan 1 0 1 4.17% Lakas 1 0 1 4.17% LDP 1 0 1 4.17% PDDS 1 0 1 4.17% PROMDI 1 0 1 4.17% Reporma 1 0 1 4.17% UNA 1 0 1 4.17% Independent 3 0 3 12.50% Total 20 4 24 100%

House of Representatives[] Party 2019 results Current seats Maj Min Ind min Una Total % PCFI[a] 54 45 8 1 0 54 17.76% PDP–Laban 82 51 0 1 0 52 17.11% Nacionalista 42 41 2 0 0 43 14.14% NPC 37 36 2 0 0 38 12.50% NUP 25 31 2 0 0 33 10.86% Lakas 12 24 0 0 0 24 7.89% Liberal 18 8 4 0 0 12 3.95% Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan[a] 6 0 6 0 0 6 1.97% HNP 3 4 0 1 0 5 1.64% Bukidnon Paglaum 2 2 0 0 0 2 0.66% LDP 2 1 0 1 0 2 0.66% NUP/1-Cebu 0 2 0 0 0 2 0.66% NUP/Asenso Manileño 0 1 1 0 0 2 0.66% NUP/UNEGA 0 2 0 0 0 2 0.66% UBJP 0 2 0 0 0 2 0.66% Aksyon Demokratiko 1 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% Aksyon/Asenso Manileño 0 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% 0 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% CDP 1 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% 0 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% Lakas/UNEGA 0 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% Magdalo[a] 1 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% 0 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% NPC/ 0 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% Navoteño 1 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% 0 0 0 1 0 1 0.33% PCM 0 1 0 1 0 1 0.33% PDDS 0 0 0 1 0 1 0.33% PPP 2 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% PRP 1 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% Reporma 0 0 0 1 0 1 0.33% 0 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% Independent 2 2 0 0 0 2 0.66% Asenso Abrenio 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% HTL 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% Vacancy 0 0 0 0 6 6 1.97% Total 304 268 25 5 6 304 100% ^ a b c Party-list representative

Members[]

Senate[]

Places of registrations of the senators. Blue pogs are for cities and municipalities with one senator; those in red have two. Take note that senators are elected at a nationwide, at-large basis.

Senators' terms elected in 2016 started on June 30, 2016, and will end on June 30, 2022; those elected in 2019 have their terms start in June 30, 2019, and end on June 30, 2025, unless stated otherwise.

Notes

House of Representatives[]

Terms of members of the House of Represenatatives started on June 30, 2019, took office on July 22, 2019, and will end on June 30, 2022, unless stated otherwise.

Party standings per district; party-lists are denoted by boxes to the right. Metro Manila is shown to the inset, at the upper right corner.

District representatives[]

Map of provinces showing how many congressional districts it has. Metro Manila is shown to the inset, at the upper right corner.

Notes

Party-list representatives[]

Notes

Committees[]

Constitutional bodies[]

Senate committees[]

House of Representatives committees[]

Agenda[]

Death penalty[]

As of July 2019, bills seeking to reinstate capital punishment in the Philippines have been revived in the Senate ahead of the opening of the 18th Congress.^[19]

COVID-19 pandemic[]

The 18th Congress enacted the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and Bayanihan to Recover as One Act as response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.

ABS-CBN franchise renewal[]

In May 2020, the House of Representatives acted on the pending franchise renewal bills of ABS-CBN that has been pending since July 2019.

House Speakership crisis[]

Lord Allan Velasco (right) takes his oath of office as House Speaker on October 12, 2020

In 2020, the position of Speaker was disputed, which in the latter part of the year threatened the passage of a bill legislating the national government's budget for 2021. The dispute involved then-speaker and Pateros–Taguig representative Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque representative Lord Allan Velasco. This started in July 2019, when the two had a "term-sharing agreement" which was brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte.^[20] Under that deal, Cayetano would serve as House Speaker for the first 15 months of the 18th Congress, or until October 2020. Cayetano was to step down from his position as speaker in order to give way for the election of Velasco as speaker.^[21]

Cayetano, in March 2020, accused Velasco and his camp of a conspiracy to remove him from his position as House Speaker. Velasco denied Cayetano's allegation of supposed ouster plot, stating it "baseless."^[22] Cayetano initially oversaw deliberations on the 2021 national budget but tensions in the lower house of the Congress grew by September 2020. His camp abruptly ended sessions in which some legislators criticizing the move which prevented them from scrutinizing proposals on the 2021 budget.^[23]

Cayetano offered to resign but his camp claim that majority of the House of Representatives declined his resignation.^[23] On October 12, 2020, Lord Allan Velasco and some legislators convened at the Celebrity Sports Complex in Quezon City^[24] and conducted a house session where positions including the speakership was declared vacant and appointed Velasco as house speaker. Velasco's camp claimed that 186 lawmakers voted for his appointment as house speaker. Cayetano's camp declared the session a "travesty" and questioned the legality of the session itself. Cayetano maintained that he remains as house speaker.^[23] On the other hand, Cayetano called the appointment of Velasco as a speaker a "fake session" as he added that there was no prior plenary resolution authorizing the holding of a session outside the Batasang Pambansa and insists that the House of Representative mace used in the meeting is illegal.^[25]

On October 13, 2020, during the start of the special session of the House, Velasco's election as House Speaker last October 12, 2020 was formally ratified by 186 representatives assembled in the Batasang Pambansa.^[26] At the same time, Cayetano tendered his "irrevocable" resignation as House Speaker on his Facebook Live paving the way for Velasco to assume his position undisputed.^[27]

Changes in membership[]

Senate[]

House of Representatives[]

District representatives[]

Party-list representatives[]

Legislation[]

Republic Acts[]

The 18th Congress has passed 33 laws, or Republic Acts 11462 to 11494:^[32]

Treaties[]

One treaty has been approved by the Senate:

Resolution number	Title	Foreign party	Vote	Date of approval
Resolution 34	RP-Russian Federation Treaty on Extradition	Russia	19–0	December 18, 2019

References[]