Congress of the Philippines

Congress of the Philippines Kongreso ng Pilipinas
18th Congress of the Philippines
Seals of the Senate (left) and of the House of Representatives (right)
Type
Type	Bicameral
Houses	Senate House of Representatives
History
Founded	June 9, 1945 (1945-06-09)
Preceded by	National Assembly of the Philippines
New session started	July 22, 2019 (2019-07-22)
Leadership
President of the Senate	Tito Sotto, NPC since July 22, 2019
Speaker of the House of Representatives	Lord Allan Velasco, PDP–Laban since October 12, 2020
Structure
Seats	328 (see list) 24 senators 304 representatives
Senate political groups	Majority bloc (20)   Nacionalista (4)   NPC (3)   PDP–Laban (3)   Bagumbayan (1)   Lakas (1)   LDP (1)   PDDS (1)   PROMDI (1)   Reporma (1)   UNA (1)   Independent (3) Minority bloc (4)   Liberal (3)   Akbayan (1)
House of Representatives political groups	Majority bloc (268)   PDP–Laban (51)   PCFI (45)   Nacionalista (41)   NPC (36)   NUP (31)   Lakas (24)   Liberal (8)   Aksyon (1)   CDP (1)   LDP (1)   Magdalo (1)   PRP (1)   Local parties (24)   Independent (2) Minority bloc (25)   PCFI (8)   Makabayan (6)   Liberal (4)   Nacionalista (2)   NPC (2)   NUP (2)   Local parties (1) Independent minority bloc (5)   LDP (1)   PCFI (1)   PDP–Laban (1)   Reporma (1)   Local parties (1) Vacancies (6)   Vacancies (6)
Joint committees	Joint committees are chaired by senators
Authority	Article VI of the Constitution of the Philippines
Elections
Senate voting system	Multiple non-transferable vote
House of Representatives voting system	Parallel voting (Party-list proportional representation and first-past-the-post)
Senate last election	May 13, 2019
House of Representatives last election	May 13, 2019
Senate next election	May 9, 2022
House of Representatives next election	May 9, 2022
Meeting place
Joint sessions are usually held at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City
Website
Senate of the Philippines House of Representatives of the Philippines

The Congress of the Philippines (Filipino: Kongreso ng Pilipinas) is the bicameral legislature of the Philippines. It consists of the Senate (upper house) and the House of Representatives (lower house),^[1] although colloquially, the term "Congress" commonly refers to just the latter.^[a]

The Senate is composed of 24 senators^[2] half of which are elected every three years. Each senator, therefore, serves a total of six years. The senators are elected by the whole electorate and do not represent any geographical district.

In the ongoing 18th Congress, there are 304 seats in the House of Representatives. The Constitution states that the House "shall be composed of not more than 250 members, unless otherwise fixed by law," and that at least 20% of it shall be sectoral representatives. There are two types of congressmen: the district and the sectoral representatives. At the time of the ratification of the constitution, there were 200 districts, leaving 50 seats for sectoral representatives.

The district congressmen represent a particular congressional district of the country. All provinces in the country are composed of at least one congressional district. Several cities also have their own congressional districts, with some having two or more representatives.^[1] From 200 districts in 1987, the number of districts have increased to 243. Every new Congress has seen an increase in the number of districts.

The party-list congressmen represent the minority sectors of the population. This enables these minority groups to be represented in the Congress, when they would otherwise not be represented properly through district representation. Also known as party-list representatives, sectoral congressmen represent labor unions, rights groups, and other organizations.^[1] With the increase of districts also means that the seats for party-list representatives increase as well, as the 1:4 ratio has to be respected.

The Constitution provides that Congress shall convene for its regular session every year beginning on the 4th Monday of July. A regular session can last until thirty days before the opening of its next regular session in the succeeding year. The president may, however, call special sessions which are usually held between regular legislative sessions to handle emergencies or urgent matters.^[1]

History[]

Spanish era[]

During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, municipal governments, or Cabildos were established. One such example was the Cabildo in Manila, established in 1571.^[3]

When the Philippines was under colonial rule as part of the Spanish East Indies, the colony was not given representation to the Spanish Cortes. It was only in 1809 where the colony was made an integral part of Spain and was given representation in the Cortes. While colonies such as the Philippines were selecting its delegates, substitutes were named so that the Cortes can convene. The substitutes, and first delegates for the Philippines were Pedro Pérez de Tagle and José Manuel Couto. Both had no connections to the colony.^[4]

By July 1810, Governor General Manuel González de Aguilar received the instruction to hold an election. As only the Manila Municipal Council qualified to elect a representative, it was tasked to select a delegate. Three of its representatives, the governor-general and the Archbishop of Manila selected Ventura de los Reyes as Manila's delegate to the Cortes. De los Reyes arrived in Cadiz in December 1811.^[4]

However, with Napoleon I's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, his brother Joseph Bonaparte was removed from the Spanish throne, and the Cádiz Constitution was replaced by the Cortes on May 24, 1816, with a more conservative constitution that removed Philippine representation on the Cortes, among other things. Restoration of Philippine representation to the Cortes was one of the grievances by the Ilustrados, the educated class during the late 19th century.^[2]

Revolutionary era[]

The Illustrados' campaign transformed into the Philippine Revolution that aimed to overthrow Spanish rule. Proclaiming independence on June 12, 1898, President Emilio Aguinaldo then ordered the convening of a revolutionary congress at Malolos. The Malolos Congress, among other things, approved the Malolos Constitution. With the approval of the Treaty of Paris, the Spanish ceded the Philippines to the United States. The revolutionaries, attempting to prevent American conquest, launched the Philippine–American War, but were defeated when Aguinaldo was captured in 1901.^[2]

American era[]

When the Philippines was under American colonial rule, the legislative body was the Philippine Commission which existed from 1900 to 1907. The President of the United States appointed the members of the Philippine Commission. Furthermore, two Filipinos served as Resident Commissioners to the House of Representatives of the United States from 1907 to 1935, then only one from 1935 to 1946. The Resident Commissioners had a voice in the House, but did not have voting rights.^[2]

The Philippine Bill of 1902 mandated the creation of a bicameral or a two-chamber Philippine Legislature with the Philippine Commission as the Upper House and the Philippine Assembly as the Lower House. This bicameral legislature was inaugurated in 1907. Through the leadership of then Speaker Sergio Osmeña and then-Floor Leader Manuel L. Quezon, the Rules of the 59th United States Congress were substantially adopted as the Rules of the Philippine Legislature.^[2]

In 1916, the Jones Law changed the legislative system. The Philippine Commission was abolished, and a new bicameral Philippine Legislature consisting of a House of Representatives and a Senate was established.^[2]

Commonwealth and Second Republic era[]

The legislative system was changed again in 1935. The 1935 Constitution, aside from instituting the Commonwealth which gave the Filipinos more role in government, established a unicameral National Assembly. But in 1940, through an amendment to the 1935 Constitution, a bicameral Congress of the Philippines consisting of a House of Representatives and a Senate was created. Those elected in 1941 would not serve until 1945, as World War II erupted. The invading Japanese set up the Second Philippine Republic and convened its own National Assembly. With the Japanese defeat in 1945, the Commonwealth and its Congress was restored. The same setup continued until the Americans granted independence on July 4, 1946.^[2]

Independent era[]

Upon the inauguration of the Republic of the Philippines on July 4, 1946, Republic Act No. 6 was enacted providing that on the date of the proclamation of the Republic of the Philippines, the existing Congress would be known as the First Congress of the Republic. Successive Congresses were elected until President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law on September 23, 1972. Marcos then ruled by decree.^[2]

As early as 1970, Marcos had convened a constitutional convention to revise the 1935 constitution; in 1973, the Constitution was approved. It abolished the bicameral Congress and created a unicameral National Assembly, which would ultimately be known as the Batasang Pambansa in a semi-presidential system of government. The batasan elected a prime minister. The Batasang Pambansa first convened in 1978. ^[2]

Marcos was overthrown after the 1986 People Power Revolution; President Corazon Aquino then ruled by decree. Later that year she appointed a constitutional commission that drafted a new constitution. The Constitution was approved in a plebiscite the next year; it restored the presidential system of government together with a bicameral Congress of the Philippines. It first convened in 1987.^[2]

Seat[]

Senate

House of Representatives

Congress Building

Japanese Schoolhouse

Ayuntamiento

Locations of the historical (blue) and current (red) seats of Congress in Metro Manila.

The two houses of Congress meet at different places in Metro Manila, the seat of government: the Senate meets at the GSIS Building, the main office of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) at Pasay, while the House of Representatives sits at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City. The two are around 25 kilometers (16 mi) apart.

• 

  Barasoain Church

• 

  Ayuntamiento de Manila

• 

  Old Legislative Building

The Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan served as a meeting place of unicameral congress of the First Philippine Republic.

After the Americans defeated the First Republic, the US-instituted Philippine Legislature convened at the Ayuntamiento in Intramuros, Manila from 1907 to 1926, when it transferred to the Legislative Building just outside Intramuros. In the Legislative Building, the Senate occupied the upper floors while the House of Representatives used the lower floors.

With the Legislative Building destroyed during the Battle of Manila of 1945, the Commonwealth Congress convened at the Old Japanese Schoolhouse at Sampaloc. Congress met at the school auditorium, with the Senate convening on evenings and the House of Representatives meeting every morning. The Senate subsequently moved to the Manila City Hall, with the House staying in the schoolhouse. The two chambers of Congress returned to the reconstructed Legislative Building, now the Congress Building in 1950. In 1973, when President Marcos ruled by decree, Congress was padlocked. Marcos built a new seat of a unicameral parliament at Quezon City, which would eventually be the Batasang Pambansa Complex. The parliament that will eventually be named as the Batasang Pambansa (National Legislature), first met at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in 1978.

With the overthrow of Marcos after the People Power Revolution, the bicameral Congress was restored. The House of Representatives inherited the Batasang Pambansa Complex, while the Senate returned to the Congress Building. In May 1997, the Senate moved to the newly constructed building owned by the GSIS on land reclaimed from Manila Bay at Pasay; the Congress Building was eventually transformed into the National Museum of Fine Arts. The Senate will eventually move into a new building that they would own in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

Powers[]

Commission on Appointments

Bicameral Conference Committee

The powers of the Congress of the Philippines may be classified as:

Lawmaking[]

Politics of the Philippines
Government Constitution of the Philippines Charter Change Laws and legal codes Taxation
Legislature Congress of the Philippines 18th Congress Senate President Tito Sotto (NPC) House of Representatives Speaker Lord Allan Velasco (PDP–Laban) Districts Party-list representation Bangsamoro Parliament Provincial boards City councils Municipal councils Barangay councils
Executive President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte (PDP–Laban) Vice President of the Philippines Leni Robredo (Liberal) Cabinet Executive departments Local government
Judiciary Supreme Court of the Philippines Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo Court of Appeals Court of Tax Appeals Sandiganbayan Ombudsman Regional Trial Courts Barangay justice
Constitutional commissions Civil Service Commission Commission on Audit Commission on Elections
Elections General 2016 2019 2022 Barangay 2013 2018 2022
Political parties Lakas LDP Liberal Nacionalista NPC NUP PDP–Laban PMP UNA
Administrative divisions Capital Regions Provinces Cities Municipalities Barangays Poblacions Sitios Puroks
Related topics Foreign relations Human rights
Philippines portal Other countries
v t

• Preparation of the bill

The Member or the Bill Drafting Division of the Reference and Research Bureau prepares and drafts the bill upon the Member's request.

• First reading
  1. The bill is filed with the Bills and Index Service and the same is numbered and reproduced.
  2. Three days after its filing, the same is included in the Order of Business for First Reading.
  3. On First Reading, the Secretary General reads the title and number of the bill. The Speaker refers the bill to the appropriate Committee/s.
• Committee consideration / action
  1. The Committee where the bill was referred to evaluates it to determine the necessity of conducting public hearings.

  • If the Committee finds it necessary to conduct public hearings, it schedules the time thereof, issues public notices and invites resource persons from the public and private sectors, the academe, and experts on the proposed legislation.
  • If the Committee determines that public hearing is not needed, it schedules the bill for Committee discussion/s.

  1. Based on the result of the public hearings or Committee discussions, the Committee may introduce amendments, consolidate bills on the same subject matter, or propose a substitute bill. It then prepares the corresponding committee report.
  2. The Committee approves the Committee Report and formally transmits the same to the Plenary Affairs Bureau.
• Second reading
  1. The Committee Report is registered and numbered by the Bills and Index Service. It is included in the Order of Business and referred to the Committee on Rules.
  2. The Committee on Rules schedules the bill for consideration on Second Reading.
  3. On Second Reading, the Secretary General reads the number, title and text of the bill and the following takes place:

  • Period of Sponsorship and Debate
  • Period of Amendments
  • Voting, which may be by

  1. viva voce
  2. count by tellers
  3. division of the House
  4. nominal voting

• Third reading
  1. The amendments, if any, are engrossed and printed copies of the bill are reproduced for Third Reading.
  2. The engrossed bill is included in the Calendar of Bills for Third Reading and copies of the same are distributed to all the Members three days before its Third Reading.
  3. On Third Reading, the Secretary General reads only the number and title of the bill.
  4. A roll call or nominal voting is called and a Member, if he desires, is given three minutes to explain his vote. No amendment on the bill is allowed at this stage.

  • The bill is approved by an affirmative vote of a majority of the Members present.
  • If the bill is disapproved, the same is transmitted to the Archives.

• Transmittal of the approved bill to the Senate

  The approved bill is transmitted to the Senate for its concurrence.

• Senate action on approved bill of the House

  The bill undergoes the same legislative process in the Senate.

• Conference committee
  1. A Conference Committee is constituted and is composed of Members from each House of Congress to settle, reconcile or thresh out differences or disagreements on any provision of the bill.
  2. The conferees are not limited to reconciling the differences in the bill but may introduce new provisions germane to the subject matter or may report out an entirely new bill on the subject.
  3. The Conference Committee prepares a report to be signed by all the conferees and the chairman.
  4. The Conference Committee Report is submitted for consideration/approval of both Houses. No amendment is allowed.
• Transmittal of the bill to the President

  Copies of the bill, signed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and certified by both the Secretary of the Senate and the Secretary General of the House, are transmitted to the President.

• Presidential action on the bill

  If the bill is approved by the President, it is assigned an RA number and transmitted to the House where it originated.

• Action on approved bill

  The bill is reproduced and copies are sent to the Official Gazette Office for publication and distribution to the implementing agencies. It is then included in the annual compilation of Acts and Resolutions.

• Action on vetoed bill

  The message is included in the Order of Business. If the Congress decides to override the veto, the House and the Senate shall proceed separately to reconsider the bill or the vetoed items of the bill. If the bill or its vetoed items is passed by a vote of two-thirds of the Members of each House, such bill or items shall become a law.

Composition[]

In the diagrams below, Congress is divided in blocs, with the colors referring to the political party of the person leading that bloc. The blocs are determined by the vote of the member in speakership or Senate presidential elections.

The Senate is composed of the winners of the 2016 and 2019 Senate elections. The House of Representatives is composed of the winners of the 2019 House of Representatives elections. In both chambers, the majority bloc is composed of members generally supportive of the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, while the minority blocs are those opposed. In the House of Representatives, there is an independent minority bloc, and 4 vacant seats.

In both chambers, membership in committees is determined by the size of the bloc; only members of the majority and minority blocs are given committee memberships. In the Philippines, political parties are liquid, and it is not uncommon to see partymates see themselves on different blocs.

Leadership[]

Each chamber is headed by a presiding officer, both elected from their respective membership; in the Senate, it is the Senate President, while in the House of Representatives, it is the Speaker. The Senate also has a Senate president pro tempore, and the House of Representatives has deputy speakers. Each chamber has its own floor leaders.

Summary[]

Senate[] Party Current seats Maj Min Total % Nacionalista 4 0 4 16.67% PDP–Laban 4 0 5 16.67% Liberal 0 3 3 12.50% NPC 3 0 3 12.50% Akbayan 0 1 1 4.17% Lakas 1 0 1 4.17% LDP 1 0 1 4.17% PROMDI 1 0 1 4.17% Reporma 1 0 1 4.17% UNA 1 0 1 4.17% Independent 4 0 3 16.67% Total 20 4 24 100%

House of Representatives[] Party 2019 results Current seats Maj Min Ind min Una Total % PDP–Laban 82 59 2 1 0 62 20.39% PCFI* 54 45 8 1 0 54 17.76% NUP 25 44 1 0 0 45 14.80% Nacionalista 42 40 2 0 0 42 13.82% NPC 37 32 1 0 0 33 10.86% Lakas 12 19 0 0 0 19 6.25% Liberal 18 12 4 0 0 16 5.26% Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan* 6 0 6 0 0 6 1.97% PFP 5 5 0 0 0 5 1.64% HNP 3 2 0 1 0 3 0.99% Bukidnon Paglaum 2 2 0 0 0 2 0.66% LDP 2 1 0 1 0 2 0.66% PPP 2 2 0 0 0 2 0.66% Aksyon Demokratiko 1 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% Bileg 1 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% CDP 1 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% Magdalo* 1 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% Navoteño 1 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% PMP 1 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% Independent 2 1 0 0 0 1 0.33% Asenso Abrenio 1 1 counted with Nacionalista Party Asenso Manileño 2 3 counted with National Unity Party HTL 1 1 counted with National Unity Party 1 1 counted with PDP–Laban Vacancy 0 0 0 0 4 4 1.32% Total 304 271 24 5 4 304 100% *Party-list representatives

Voting requirements[]

The vote requirements in the Congress of the Philippines are as follows:

In most cases, such as the approval of bills, only a majority of members present is needed; on some cases such as the election of presiding officers, a majority of all members, including vacant seats, is needed.

Sessions[]

A new session of Congress starts after every House of Representatives election. During the operation of the 1935 constitution as amended in 1940, mid-term elections in the Senate cause its membership to be changed mid-session. From 1945 to 1972, there were two commonwealth congresses and seven congresses of the republic, with the 2nd Commonwealth Congress becoming the 1st Congress of the Republic. During the usage of the 1973 constitution, the Batasang Pambansa was the legislature, with it having two elections. Starting in the 1987 constitution, each Senate election was synchronized with the House elections, with the first congress under that constitution being counted as the "8th Congress", picking up from the last congress of the 1935 constitution.

Per historical era[]

In operation	Authority	Regime	Legislature	Type	Upper house	Lower house
1898–99	Malolos Constitution	First Philippine Republic controlled areas	Malolos Congress	Unicameral	Malolos Congress
	War powers authority of the President of the United States	United States Military Government controlled areas	Martial law; military governor ruled by decree
1900–1902	Malolos Constitution	First Philippine Republic controlled areas	Malolos Congress	Unicameral	Malolos Congress
	Appointment by the President of the United States	United States Military Government controlled areas	Taft Commission	Unicameral	Philippine Commission
1902–1907	Philippine Organic Act	Insular Government of the Philippine Islands	Philippine Commission	Unicameral
1907–1916			Philippine Legislature	Bicameral	Philippine Commission	Philippine Assembly
1916–1935	Philippine Autonomy Act			Bicameral	Senate	House of Representatives
1935–1941	1935 Constitution	Commonwealth of the Philippines	National Assembly	Unicameral	National Assembly
1942–43	War powers authority of the Emperor of Japan	Empire of Japan	Martial law; governor-general ruled by decree
1943–44	1943 Constitution	Second Philippine Republic	National Assembly	Unicameral	National Assembly
1945–46	Amendments to the 1935 Constitution	Commonwealth of the Philippines	Congress (Commonwealth)	Bicameral	Senate	House of Representatives
1946–1973		Third Republic of the Philippines	Congress	Bicameral
1973–1976	1973 Constitution	Philippines under Martial Law	Martial law; president ruled by decree
1976–1978 (never convened)			Batasang Bayan	Unicameral	National Assembly
1978–1986	Amendments to the 1973 Constitution	Fourth Republic of the Philippines	Batasang Pambansa	Unicameral	Batasang Pambansa
1986–1987		Provisional Government	President ruled by decree
1987–present	1987 Constitution	Republic of the Philippines	Congress	Bicameral	Senate	House of Representatives

List of Congresses[]

Election	Congress	Senate election results		House of Representatives elections results
Pre-1941	See Philippine Legislature and National Assembly of the Philippines
1941	1st Commonwealth Congress		24 Nacionalista		95 Nacionalista 3 independent
1946	2nd Commonwealth Congress		9 Nacionalista (Liberal wing) 6 Nacionalista 1 Popular Front		49 Nacionalista (Liberal wing) 35 Nacionalista 6 Democratic Alliance 3 others
	1st Congress
1947			6 Liberal 2 Nacionalista
1949	2nd Congress		8 Liberal		60 Liberal 33 Nacionalista 7 others
1951			8 Nacionalista
1953	3rd Congress		5 Nacionalista 2 Democratic 1 Citizens'		59 Nacionalista 31 Liberal 11 Democratic 1 independent
1955			9 Nacionalista
1957	4th Congress		6 Nacionalista 2 Liberal		82 Nacionalista 19 Liberal 1 NCP
1959			5 Nacionalista 2 Liberal 1 NCP
1961	5th Congress		4 Liberal 2 Nacionalista 2 Progressive		74 Nacionalista 29 Liberal 1 independent
1963			4 Liberal 4 Nacionalista
1965	6th Congress		5 Nacionalista 2 Liberal 1 NCP		61 Liberal 38 Nacionalista 5 others
1967			6 Nacionalista 1 Liberal 1 independent
1969	7th Congress		6 Nacionalista 2 Liberal		88 Nacionalista 18 Liberal 4 others
1971			5 Liberal 3 Nacionalista
1978, 1984	See Batasang Pambansa
1987	8th Congress		22 LABAN 2 GAD		43 PDP–Laban 24 Lakas ng Bansa 19 UNIDO 16 Liberal 11 KBL 55 coalitions 32 others 14 appointed sectoral seats
1992	9th Congress		16 LDP 5 NPC 2 Lakas 1 Liberal		86 LDP 41 Lakas 30 NPC 11 LP-PDP 32 others 16 appointed sectoral seats
1995	10th Congress		4 Lakas 4 LDP 1 Nacionalista 1 NPC 1 PRP 1 independent		157 pro-administration coalition 26 opposition coalition 12 hybrid coalitions 9 others 16 appointed sectoral seats
1998	11th Congress		5 Lakas 4 LDP 1 NPC 1 PMP 1 PDP–Laban		111 Lakas 55 LAMMP 15 Liberal 25 others 14 party-lists
2001	12th Congress		3 Lakas 2 LDP 1 Liberal 1 PDP–Laban 6 independent		73 Lakas 40 NPC 21 LDP 19 Liberal 52 others 17 party-lists
2004	13th Congress		5 KNP 4 Lakas 2 Liberal 1 PRP		92 Lakas 53 NPC 29 Liberal 15 LDP 20 others 28 party-lists
2007	14th Congress		2 Liberal 2 Nacionalista 2 NPC 2 UNO 1 KAMPI 1 LDP 1 PDP–Laban 1 independent		89 Lakas 44 KAMPI 28 NPC 23 Liberal 11 Nacionalista 23 others 53 party-lists
2010	15th Congress		3 Liberal 2 Lakas–Kampi 2 Nacionalista 2 PMP 1 NPC 1 PRP 1 independent		106 Lakas–Kampi 47 Liberal 29 NPC 25 Nacionalista 22 others 57 party-lists
2013	16th Congress		3 Nacionalista 3 UNA 1 LDP 1 Liberal 1 NPC 1 PDP–Laban		109 Liberal 42 NPC 24 NUP 18 Nacionalista 14 Lakas 27 others 59 party-lists
2016	17th Congress		5 Liberal 2 NPC 1 Akbayan 1 UNA 3 independent		115 Liberal 42 NPC 24 Nacionalista 23 NUP 11 UNA 23 others 59 party-lists
2019	18th Congress		4 PDP–Laban 3 Nacionalista 1 Lakas 1 LDP 1 NPC 1 UNA 1 independent		82 PDP–Laban 42 Nacionalista 37 NPC 23 NUP 18 Liberal 12 Lakas 27 others 61 party-lists

Latest elections[]

Senate[]

In the Philippines, the most common way to illustrate the result in a Senate election is via a tally of candidates in descending order of votes. The twelve candidates with the highest number of votes are elected.

House of Representatives[]

A voter has two votes in the House of Representatives: one vote for a representative elected in the voter's congressional district (first-past-the-post), and one vote for a party in the party-list system (closed list), the so-called party-list representatives; party-list representatives shall comprise not more than 20% of the House of Representatives.

To determine the winning parties in the party-list election, a party must surpass the 2% election threshold of the national vote; usually, the party with the largest number of votes wins the maximum three seats, the rest two seats. If the number of seats of the parties that surpassed the 2% threshold is less than 20% of the total seats, the parties that won less than 2% of the vote gets one seat each until the 20% requirement is met.

District elections[]

Party		Votes	%	+/–	Seats	+/–
	Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan	12,653,960	31.22	+29.32	82	+79
	Nacionalista Party	6,524,100	16.10	+6.68	42	+18
	Nationalist People's Coalition	5,797,543	14.31	−2.73	37	−5
	National Unity Party	3,852,909	9.51	−0.16	25	+2
	Liberal Party	2,321,759	5.73	−35.99	18	−97
	Lakas-CMD	2,069,871	5.11	+3.57	12	+8
	Partido Federal ng Pilipinas	965,048	2.38	New	5	New
	Hugpong ng Pagbabago	652,318	1.61	New	3	New
	Aksyon Demokratiko	398,616	0.98	−0.4	1	0
	Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino	396,614	0.98	+0.77	1	New
	Bukidnon Paglaum	335,628	0.83	+0.48	2	+1
	Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan	259,423	0.64	New	0	0
	Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino	252,806	0.62	+0.32	2	0
	United Nationalist Alliance	232,657	0.57	−6.05	0	−11
	Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod	197,024	0.49	+0.35	1	New
	Partidong Pagbabago ng Palawan	185,810	0.46	New	2	New
	Bileg Ti Ilokano	158,523	0.39	New	1	New
	People's Reform Party	138,014	0.34	New	1	New
	Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija	120,674	0.30	New	0	0
	Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino	116,453	0.29	New	0	0
		115,865	0.29	New	1	New
		107,078	0.26	New	0	0
		98,450	0.24	−0.10	0	0
	Asenso Manileño	84,656	0.21	−0.29	2	0
	Kusog Bicolandia	82,832	0.20	New	0	0
	Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines	81,741	0.20	+0.16	1	New
	Partido Navoteño	80,265	0.20	New	1	New
		65,836	0.16	−0.03	1	0
	Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas	56,223	0.14	New	0	0
	Bagumbayan-VNP	33,731	0.08	New	0	0
	Kilusang Bagong Lipunan	33,594	0.08	−0.45	0	0
	Adelante Zamboanga Party	28,605	0.07	New	0	0
	Labor Party Philippines	9,718	0.02	+0.00	0	0
	Democratic Party of the Philippines	1,110	0.00	New	0	0
	Hugpong Surigao Sur	816	0.00	New	0	0
	Philippine Green Republican Party	701	0.00	−0.01	0	0
	Independent	2,014,211	4.97	−0.86	2	−2
Party-list seats[b]					61	+2
Total		40,525,182	100.00	–	304	+5
Valid votes		40,525,182	86.34
Invalid/blank votes		6,411,957	13.66
Total votes		46,937,139	–
Registered voters/turnout		61,843,771	75.90
Source: COMELEC (Seats won), (Turnout and electorate)

Party-list election[]

See also[]

• Politics of the Philippines
• Senate of the Philippines
• House of Representatives of the Philippines
• Legislative districts of the Philippines
• List of Philippine Senate committees
• List of Philippine House committees
• List of legislatures by country
• List of current members of the Congress of the Philippines by wealth

Notes[]

References[]

Sources[]

• Ramirez, Efren V. and Lee, Jr., German G., The New Philippine Constitution. Cebu City: 1987: pp. 142–173.
• Article VI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution
• How a Bill becomes a Law
• Legislative History
• Your Legislature

External links[]

• Official Website of the Senate
• Official Website of the House of Representatives