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Congress of the Philippines

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"Legislature of the Philippines" redirects here. For the historical legislature, see Philippine Legislature. For the current Congress, see 19th Congress of the Philippines.

Congress of the Philippines

Kongreso ng Pilipinas (Filipino)
19th Congress of the Philippines
 
Seals of the Senate (left) and of the House of Representatives (right)
Type
Type
HousesSenate
House of Representatives
History
FoundedJune 9, 1945; 79 years ago (1945-06-09)
Preceded byNational Assembly of the Philippines
New session started
July 25, 2022 (2022-07-25)
Leadership
Francis Escudero, NPC
since May 20, 2024[1]
Martin Romualdez, Lakas
since July 25, 2022[2]
Structure
Seats340 (see list)
24 senators
316 representatives
Senate political groups
  •   Nacionalista (5)
  •   NPC (5)
  •   PDP (3)
  •   Akbayan (1)
  •   Lakas (1)
  •   PFP (1)
  •   PMP (1)
  •   UNA (1)
  •   Independent (5)
  •   Vacancy (1)
House of Representatives political groups
Joint committees
Joint committees are chaired by senators
AuthorityArticle VI of the Constitution of the Philippines
Elections
Multiple non-transferable vote
Parallel voting (Party-list proportional representation and first-past-the-post)
Last Senate election
May 12, 2025
May 12, 2025
Next Senate election
2028
2028
Meeting place
The Senate meets at the GSIS Building, Financial Center, Jose W. Diokno Boulevard, Pasay
The House of Representatives meets at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City, which also hosts joint sessions
Website
econgress.gov.ph

The Congress of the Philippines (Filipino: Kongreso ng Pilipinas) is the legislature of the national government of the Philippines. It is bicameral, composed of an upper body, the Senate, and a lower body, the House of Representatives,[3] although colloquially, the term "Congress" commonly refers to just the latter.[i] The Senate meets at the GSIS Building in Pasay, while the House of Representatives meets at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, which also hosts joint sessions.

The Senate is composed of 24 senators[4] half of which are elected every three years. Each senator, therefore, serves a total of six years. The senators are elected at-large and do not represent any geographical district.

In the current 19th Congress, there are 316 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 party-list representatives. At the time of the ratification of the constitution, there were 200 districts, leaving 50 seats for party-list 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.[3] From 200 districts in 1987, the number of districts have increased to 253.[5] 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. Party-list representatives represent labor unions, rights groups, and other organizations.[3] 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.[3]

History

[edit]

Spanish colonial period

[edit]
Main article: Cortes of Cádiz

During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, municipal governments, or Cabildos were established. One such example was the Cabildo in Manila, established in 1571.[6]

While the Philippines was under colonial rule as part of the Spanish East Indies, the colony had no representation in the Spanish Cortes. Only in 1809, when the colony was made an integral part of Spain, did it gain representation in the Cortes. While colonies such as the Philippines were selecting their delegates, substitutes were named so that the Cortes could convene. The substitutes, and first delegates for the Philippines were Pedro Pérez de Tagle and José Manuel Couto. Neither had any connection to the colony.[7]

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.[7]

However, with Napoleon I's defeat in 1814, his brother Joseph Bonaparte was removed from the Spanish throne, and the Cádiz Constitution was abolished by Ferdinand VII, who returned to the absolute monarchy, 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.[4]

Revolutionary era

[edit]
Main article: Malolos Congress

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.[4]

American colonial period

[edit]
Main article: Philippine Legislature

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.[4]

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-Majority Floor Leader Manuel L. Quezon, the Rules of the 59th United States Congress were substantially adopted as the Rules of the Philippine Legislature.[4]

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.[4]

Commonwealth and Second Republic era

[edit]
Main article: National Assembly of the Philippines

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.[4]

Independence era

[edit]
See also: Batasang Pambansa

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.[4]

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 Batasang Pambansa first convened in 1978, and elected a prime minister. [4]

Marcos was overthrown after the 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. The restored Congress first convened in 1987.[4]

Seat

[edit]
Congress of the Philippines is located in Metro Manila
Senate
Senate
House of Representatives
House of Representatives
Congress Building
Congress Building
Japanese Schoolhouse
Japanese Schoolhouse
Ayuntamiento
Ayuntamiento
class=notpageimage|
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) in Pasay, while the House of Representatives sits at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City. The two are around 25 kilometers (16 mi) apart.

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 until 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 in 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 in 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 in 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

[edit]
Commission on Appointments
Bicameral Conference Committee

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

General Legislative
It consists of the enactment of laws intended as a rule of conduct to govern the relation between individuals (i.e., civil laws, commercial laws, etc.) or between individuals and the state (i.e., criminal law, political law, etc.)[4]
Implied Powers
It is essential to the effective exercise of other powers expressly granted to the assembly.
Inherent Powers
These are the powers which although not expressly given are nevertheless exercised by the Congress as they are necessary for its existence such as:
  • to determine the rules of proceedings;
  • to compel attendance of absent members to obtain quorum to do business;
  • to keep journal of its proceedings; etc.
Specific Legislative
It has reference to powers which the Constitution expressly and specifically directs to perform or execute.
Powers enjoyed by the Congress classifiable under this category are:
  • Power to appropriate;
  • Power to act as a constituent assembly (for drafting an amendment to the constitution upon a vote of three-fourths of all its members);
  • Power to impeach (the House of Representatives initiates all cases of impeachment, and successful cases are referred to the Senate for trial; officials convicted by the Senate are removed from office);
  • Power to confirm treaties (only the Senate is authorized to use this power);
  • Power to declare the existence of war (The Senate and the House of Representatives must convene in joint session to do this);
  • Power to concur amnesty;
  • Power to act as a board of canvassers for presidential/vice-presidential votes (by creating a joint congressional committee to do the canvassing);
  • Budgetary power;
  • Power to implement taxes.
Executive
Powers of the Congress that are executive in nature are:
  • Appointment of its officers;
  • Affirming treaties;
  • Confirming presidential appointees through the Commission on Appointments;
  • Removal power; etc.
Supervisory
The Congress of the Philippines exercises considerable control and supervision over the administrative branch - e.g.:
  • To decide the creation of a department/agency/office;
  • To define powers and duties of officers;
  • To appropriate funds for governmental operations;
  • To prescribe rules and procedure to be followed; etc.
Electoral
Considered as electoral power of the Congress of the Philippines are the Congress's power to:
  • Elect its presiding officer/s and other officers of the House;
  • Act as board of canvassers for the canvass of presidential/vice-presidential votes; and
  • Elect the President in case of any electoral tie to the said post.
Judicial
Constitutionally, each house has judicial powers:
  • To punish its Members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of all its Members, suspend or expel a Member
  • To concur and approve amnesty declared by the President of the Philippines;
  • To initiate, prosecute and thereafter decide cases of impeachment; and
  • To decide electoral protests of its members through the respective Electoral Tribunal.
Miscellaneous
The other powers of Congress mandated by the Constitution are as follows:
  • To authorize the Commission on Audit to audit fund and property;
  • To authorize the President of the Philippines to fix tariff rates, quotas, and dues;
  • To authorize the President of the Philippines to formulate rules and regulations in times of emergency;
  • To reapportion legislative districts based on established constitutional standards;
  • To implement laws on autonomy;
  • To establish a national language commission;
  • To implement free public secondary education;
  • To allow small scale use of natural resources;
  • To specify the limits of forest lands and national parks;
  • To determine the ownership and extent of ancestral domain; and
  • To establish independent economic and planning agency.

.

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  • 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

[edit]
Main article: 19th Congress of the Philippines

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

The Senate is composed of the winners of the 2019 and 2022 Senate elections. The House of Representatives is composed of the winners of the 2022 House of Representatives elections. In both chambers, the majority bloc is composed of members generally supportive of the incumbent presidency of Bongbong Marcos, 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 for party-mates to find themselves in different blocs.

Leadership

[edit]

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.

Voting requirements

[edit]

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

Requirement Senate House of Representatives Joint session All members
One-fifth N/A N/A
One-third N/A
  • Pass articles of impeachment
 N/A N/A
Majority (50% +1 member)
  • Election of the Senate President
  • Election of the Speaker
  • Revocation of martial law
  • Revocation of the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus
  • Submit to the electorate the question of calling a constitutional convention
  • Grant a tax exemption
  • Concurrence of a grant of amnesty
  • Passage of laws
  • Election of the president in case of a tie vote.
  • Confirmation of an appointment of the president to a vice president
Two-thirds
  • Suspend or expel a member
  • Designation of the vice president as acting president
  • Override a presidential veto
  • Declaration of a state of war (voting separately)
  • Call a constitutional convention
  • Conviction of impeached officials
  • Concurrence on a treaty
 N/A
Three-fourths N/A N/A N/A
  • Passage of amendments to, or revision of the constitution

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

[edit]
See also: List of legislatures of the Philippines

A new session of Congress starts after every House of Representatives election. Under the 1935 Constitution as amended in 1940, mid-term elections for the Senate caused 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. Under the 1973 Constitution, the Batasang Pambansa was the legislature, with it having two elections. Under 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

[edit]
In operation Authority Government 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 Fifth Republic of the Philippines Congress Bicameral Senate House of Representatives

List of congresses

[edit]
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 Majority–1 Minority




 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
23 Majority–1 Minority




 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
22 Majority–1 Minority




 4 Lakas
4 LDP
1 Nacionalista
1 NPC
1 PRP
1 independent
160 Majority–22 Minority




 157 pro-administration coalition
26 opposition coalition
12 hybrid coalitions
9 others
16 appointed sectoral seats
1998 11th Congress
22 Majority–1 Minority




 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
13 Majority–11 Minority




 3 Lakas
2 LDP
1 Liberal
1 PDP–Laban
6 independent
185 Majority–17 Minority




 79 Lakas
42 NPC
21 LDP
19 Liberal
48 others
16 party-lists
2004 13th Congress
13 Majority–10 Minority




 5 KNP
4 Lakas
2 Liberal
1 PRP
193 Majority–28 Minority




 92 Lakas
53 NPC
29 Liberal
15 LDP
20 others
28 party-lists
2007 14th Congress
15 Majority–7 Minority



 2 Liberal
2 Nacionalista
2 NPC
2 UNO
1 KAMPI
1 LDP
1 PDP–Laban
1 independent
193 Majority–1 Minority




 89 Lakas
44 KAMPI
28 NPC
23 Liberal
11 Nacionalista
23 others
53 party-lists
2010 15th Congress
17 Majority–3 Minority



 3 Liberal
2 Lakas–Kampi
2 Nacionalista
2 PMP
1 NPC
1 PRP
1 independent
227 Majority–29 Minority




 106 Lakas–Kampi
47 Liberal
29 NPC
25 Nacionalista
22 others
57 party-lists
2013 16th Congress
17 Majority–6 Minority




 3 Nacionalista
3 UNA
1 LDP
1 Liberal
1 NPC
1 PDP–Laban
244 Majority–35 Minority




 109 Liberal
42 NPC
24 NUP
18 Nacionalista
14 Lakas
27 others
59 party-lists
2016 17th Congress
20 Majority–3 Minority




 5 Liberal
2 NPC
1 Akbayan
1 UNA
3 independent
252 Majority–36 Minority




 115 Liberal
42 NPC
24 Nacionalista
23 NUP
11 UNA
23 others
59 party-lists
2019 18th Congress
20 Majority–4 Minority




 4 PDP–Laban
3 Nacionalista
1 Lakas
1 LDP
1 NPC
1 UNA
1 independent
266 Majority–28 Minority




 82 PDP–Laban
42 Nacionalista
37 NPC
23 NUP
18 Liberal
12 Lakas
27 others
61 party-lists
2022 19th Congress
20 Maj–2 Min–2 Ind




 4 NPC
1 PDP-Laban
1 Nacionalista
1 Akbayan
1 PMP
4 independent
282 Majority–5 others




 66 PDP–Laban
36 Nacionalista
35 NPC
33 NUP
26 Lakas
10 Liberal
47 others
62 party-lists

Latest elections

[edit]

Senate

[edit]
Main article: 2025 Philippine Senate election

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.

CandidateParty or allianceVotes%
Bong GoDuterTenPartido Demokratiko Pilipino27,121,07347.29
Bam AquinoKiBamKatipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino20,971,89936.57
Ronald dela RosaDuterTenPartido Demokratiko Pilipino20,773,94636.22
Erwin TulfoAlyansa para sa Bagong PilipinasLakas–CMD17,118,88129.85
Francis PangilinanKiBamLiberal Party15,343,22926.75
Rodante MarcoletaDuterTenIndependent15,250,72326.59
Panfilo LacsonAlyansa para sa Bagong PilipinasIndependent15,106,11126.34
Tito SottoAlyansa para sa Bagong PilipinasNationalist People's Coalition14,832,99625.86
Pia CayetanoAlyansa para sa Bagong PilipinasNacionalista Party14,573,43025.41
Camille VillarAlyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas[I]Nacionalista Party13,651,27423.80
Lito LapidAlyansa para sa Bagong PilipinasNationalist People's Coalition13,394,10223.35
Imee MarcosNacionalista Party[I]13,339,22723.26
Ben TulfoIndependent12,090,09021.08
Bong RevillaAlyansa para sa Bagong PilipinasLakas–CMD12,027,84520.97
Abigail BinayAlyansa para sa Bagong PilipinasNationalist People's Coalition11,808,64520.59
Benhur AbalosAlyansa para sa Bagong PilipinasPartido Federal ng Pilipinas11,580,52020.19
Jimmy BondocDuterTenPartido Demokratiko Pilipino10,615,59818.51
Manny PacquiaoAlyansa para sa Bagong PilipinasPartido Federal ng Pilipinas10,397,13318.13
Phillip SalvadorDuterTenPartido Demokratiko Pilipino10,241,49117.86
Bonifacio BositaRiding-in-Tandem TeamIndependent9,805,90317.10
Heidi MendozaIndependent8,759,73215.27
Willie RevillameIndependent8,568,92414.94
Vic RodriguezDuterTenIndependent8,450,66814.74
Raul LambinoDuterTenPartido Demokratiko Pilipino8,383,59314.62
Francis TolentinoAlyansa para sa Bagong PilipinasPartido Federal ng Pilipinas7,702,55013.43
Jayvee HinloDuterTenPartido Demokratiko Pilipino7,471,70413.03
Willie Ong[II]Aksyon Demokratiko7,371,94412.85
Gregorio HonasanReform PH Party6,700,77211.68
Luke EspirituPartido Lakas ng Masa6,481,41311.30
Richard MataDuterTenIndependent5,789,18110.09
Apollo QuiboloyDuterTenIndependent5,719,0419.97
Teodoro CasiñoMakabayan4,648,2718.10
Arlene BrosasMakabayan4,343,7737.57
Leody de GuzmanPartido Lakas ng Masa4,136,8997.21
Danilo RamosMakabayan4,091,2577.13
Ariel QuerubinRiding-in-Tandem TeamNacionalista Party3,950,0516.89
Liza MazaMakabayan3,927,7846.85
Sonny MatulaWorkers' and Peasants' Party3,865,7926.74
Ronnel ArambuloMakabayan3,846,2166.71
France CastroMakabayan3,670,9726.40
Angelo de AlbanIndependent2,556,9834.46
Roberto BallonIndependent2,389,8474.17
Norman MarquezIndependent1,150,0952.01
Eric MartinezIndependent1,032,2011.80
Norberto GonzalesPartido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas990,0911.73
Jocelyn AndamoMakabayan829,0841.45
Allen CapuyanPartido Pilipino sa Pagbabago818,4371.43
Ernesto ArellanoKatipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi801,6771.40
Jerome AdonisMakabayan779,8681.36
Mimi DoringoMakabayan744,5061.30
Arnel EscobalPartido Maharlika731,4531.28
Jose Montemayor Jr.Independent671,8181.17
Wilson AmadIndependent618,9431.08
Mar ValbuenaIndependent611,4321.07
David D'AngeloBunyog Party607,6421.06
Wilbert T. Lee[II]Aksyon Demokratiko587,0981.02
Marc GamboaAksyon DemokratikoIndependent571,6371.00
Amirah LidasanMakabayan564,9480.99
Mody FlorandaMakabayan554,3850.97
Nur-Ana SahidullaIndependent476,8550.83
Michael TapadoPartido Maharlika460,6620.80
Relly Jose Jr.Kilusang Bagong Lipunan458,3830.80
Jose OlivarIndependent448,7940.78
Subair MustaphaWorkers' and Peasants' Party414,0270.72
Roy CabonegroDemocratic Party of the Philippines383,5340.67
Leandro Verceles Jr.Independent310,5620.54
Total428,489,615100.00
Total votes57,350,958–
Registered voters/turnout69,673,65582.31
Source: COMELEC
  1. ^ a b Guest candidate of DuterTen
  2. ^ a b Withdrew but remained on the ballot

House of Representatives

[edit]
Main article: 2025 Philippine House of Representatives elections

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

[edit]
PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Lakas–CMD16,596,69832.87+23.65103+77
National Unity Party6,080,98712.05−0.6131−2
Nationalist People's Coalition5,974,20111.83+0.1131−4
Partido Federal ng Pilipinas5,286,53810.47+9.5227+25
Nacionalista Party4,724,8039.36−4.3922−14
Liberal Party1,555,9413.08−0.716−4
Aksyon Demokratiko1,341,5402.66+0.853+3
Partido Demokratiko Pilipino666,0671.32−21.452−64
Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod542,7101.07+0.923+3
Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino314,9810.62−0.162+1
People's Reform Party292,6650.58−1.381−2
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino269,9490.53+0.512+2
United Bangsamoro Justice Party236,8570.47−0.1400
Unang Sigaw183,9120.36−0.2900
Makatizens United Party150,1890.30New2New
Sama Sama Tarlac143,8680.28New00
United Nationalist Alliance142,6550.28+0.1410
Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino134,1370.27+0.2600
National Unity Party/United Negros Alliance130,0230.26−0.271−1
Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines127,6460.25−0.0210
Partido Navoteño116,6220.23+0.0610
One Capiz109,2490.22New00
Reform PH Party107,9660.21New00
Lakas–CMD/One Cebu104,7680.21New1New
Adelante Zamboanga Party100,0350.20+0.0510
Padajon Surigao Party99,8560.20New00
Galing at Serbisyo para sa Mindoreño91,0730.18New00
Filipino Rights Protection Advocates of Manila Movement87,1830.17New00
Nationalist People's Coalition/One Cebu74,9360.15New1New
Asenso Manileño70,7800.14New10
Akay National Political Party68,5240.14New00
Workers' and Peasants' Party50,6180.10+0.0000
Kusog Bicolandia33,7890.07New00
Partido Lakas ng Masa28,7460.06+0.0500
Asenso Abrenio23,3080.05New00
Makabayan22,6980.04New00
Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas14,3430.03−0.1300
Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma12,6720.03−0.9600
Independent4,371,6118.66+4.2211+5
Party-list seats630
Total50,485,144100.00–317+1
Valid votes50,485,14488.46+1.48
Invalid/blank votes6,585,15011.54−1.48
Total votes57,070,294100.00–
Registered voters/turnout68,431,96583.40−0.70
Source: COMELEC (results per district, registered voters)

Party-list election

[edit]
PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Akbayan2,779,6216.63+5.993+2
Duterte Youth[ii]2,338,5645.57+3.933+2
Tingog Party List1,822,7084.34+1.933+1
4Ps Partylist1,469,5713.50+1.2020
ACT-CIS Partylist1,239,9302.96−2.782−1
Ako Bicol1,073,1192.56+0.3420
Uswag Ilonggo777,7541.85−0.0210
Solid North Party765,3221.82New1New
Trabaho Partylist709,2831.69+1.311+1
Citizens' Battle Against Corruption593,9111.42−0.3110
Malasakit@Bayanihan580,1001.38+0.4410
Senior Citizens Partylist577,7531.38−0.2910
Puwersa ng Pilipinong Pandagat575,7621.37New1New
Mamamayang Liberal547,9491.31New1New
FPJ Panday Bayanihan Partylist538,0031.28New1New
United Senior Citizens Partylist533,9131.27+0.4010
4K Partylist521,5921.24New1New
LPG Marketers Association517,8331.23+0.0010
Coop-NATCCO509,9131.22+0.2810
Ako Bisaya477,7961.14−0.2510
Construction Workers Solidarity477,5171.14+0.0210
Pinoy Workers475,9851.13New1New
AGAP Partylist469,4121.12+0.1210
Asenso Pinoy423,1331.01+0.381+1
Agimat Partylist420,8131.00−0.5910
TGP Partylist407,9220.97+0.0810
SAGIP Partylist405,2970.97−1.151−1
Alona Partylist393,6840.94+0.2910
1-Rider Partylist385,7000.92−1.801−1
Kamanggagawa382,6570.91New1New
GP Party381,8800.91New1New
Kamalayan381,4370.91+0.761+1
Bicol Saro366,1770.87−0.0110
Kusug Tausug365,9160.87−0.1810
Alliance of Concerned Teachers353,6310.84−0.0610
One Coop334,0980.80+0.621+1
KM Ngayon Na324,4050.77+0.591+1
Abante Mindanao320,3490.76New1New
Bagong Henerasyon[ii]319,8030.76−0.1410
Trade Union Congress Party314,8140.75+0.0410
Kabataan312,3440.74+0.5910
APEC Partylist310,4270.74−0.0010
Magbubukid310,2890.74New1New
1Tahanan309,7610.74+0.151+1
Ako Ilocano Ako301,4060.72−0.3310
Manila Teachers Party-List301,2910.72+0.5410
Nanay293,4300.70New1New
Kapuso PM293,1490.70New1New
SSS-GSIS Pensyonado290,3590.69New1New
DUMPER Partylist279,5320.67−0.1810
Abang Lingkod274,7350.65−0.1610
Pusong Pinoy266,6230.64−0.0710
Swerte261,3790.62New1New
Philreca Party-List261,0450.62−0.0410
Gabriela Women's Party256,8110.61−0.540−1
Abono Partylist254,4740.61−0.170−1
Ang Probinsyano Party-list250,8860.60−1.340−1
Murang Kuryente Partylist247,7540.59New00
OFW Partylist246,6090.59−0.210−1
Apat-Dapat245,0600.58+0.5200
Tupad243,1520.58New00
Kalinga Partylist235,1860.56+0.4100
1-Pacman Party List233,0960.56−0.180−1
Angat229,7070.55−0.890−1
Magsasaka Partylist225,3710.54−0.210−1
P3PWD214,6050.51−0.550−1
Barangay Health Wellness Partylist203,7190.49−0.420−1
Democratic Independent Workers Association195,8290.47−0.1700
Epanaw Sambayanan188,5050.45New00
Probinsyano Ako185,6060.44−0.840−1
Toda Aksyon183,1110.44New00
Pinuno Partylist181,0660.43−0.390−1
Serbisyo sa Bayan Party175,5200.42New00
Abante Pangasinan - Ilokano Party170,7950.41−0.820−1
AGRI Partylist168,0320.40−0.670−1
Asap Na164,0300.39New00
Bayan Muna162,8940.39−0.2100
Eduaksyon161,5170.39New00
Akay ni Sol159,7480.38New00
Ahon Mahirap157,9910.38New00
1Munti Partylist157,6650.38New00
H.E.L.P. Pilipinas157,3080.37+0.1200
A Teacher Partylist157,1160.37−0.2300
Babae Ako157,0410.37+0.2600
Anakalusugan154,1210.37−0.390−1
Pilipinas Babangon Muli154,0250.37New00
Batang Quiapo Partylist153,6370.37New00
Lunas151,4940.36+0.0800
Kabalikat ng Mamamayan141,8470.34−0.420−1
WIFI141,0410.34+0.0300
Aangat Tayo140,5970.34New00
Laang Kawal136,4840.33New00
Ako Padayon134,2920.32−0.0400
Solo Parents131,6590.31New00
Pamilya Ko124,2280.30New00
Pamilyang Magsasaka117,4400.28−0.1500
ANGKASANGGA115,7200.28New00
Kasambahay111,2690.27New00
Bangon Bagong Minero111,1740.27New00
Pamilya Muna108,4830.26New00
Kababaihan107,8480.26New00
AA-Kasosyo Party107,2620.26New00
Tulungan Tayo106,5040.25−0.1500
Health Workers105,5120.25New00
1Agila104,8680.25New00
Boses Party-List102,5880.24−0.0700
Buhay Party-List99,3650.24−0.0400
Ipatupad For Workers96,7350.23+0.1200
Gilas96,6460.23New00
Bunyog Party93,8250.22+0.0700
Vendors Partylist88,8450.21New00
Bayaning Tsuper84,2040.20−0.2300
Bisaya Gyud Party-List79,9150.19−0.1200
Magdalo Party-List78,9840.19−0.1300
Maharlikang Pilipino Party78,7000.19+0.0700
Arangkada Pilipino75,4930.18New00
Bagong Maunlad na Pilipinas70,5950.17New00
Damayang Filipino68,4800.16New00
Partido sa Bagong Pilipino68,0850.16New00
Heal PH67,0850.16New00
Ang Tinig ng Seniors66,5530.16−0.1300
Ako OFW60,2300.14−0.3200
Aksyon Dapat58,9160.14New00
Aktibong Kaagapay55,8290.13+0.0400
UGB Partylist53,6330.13New00
Ang Komadrona53,0170.13−0.0400
United Frontliners52,3380.12−0.0200
Gabay52,1090.12New00
Tictok51,3540.12New00
Ako Tanod49,5530.12New00
Barangay Natin49,3640.12−0.1100
Abante Bisdak49,1140.12New00
Turismo47,6450.11New00
Ang Bumbero ng Pilipinas47,0270.11−0.0700
BFF45,8160.11New00
Pinoy Ako44,4190.11New00
Patrol Partylist41,5700.10−0.590−1
Tutok To Win Party-List41,0360.10−1.760−1
Lingap38,5640.09New00
Maagap35,8710.09+0.0400
PBA Partylist35,0780.08−0.720−1
Ilocano Defenders32,0280.08New00
Pamana31,5260.08New00
Kaunlad Pinoy30,8980.07New00
Juan Pinoy27,5230.07New00
Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa26,7710.06−0.1300
Arise26,5650.06+0.0100
Click Party25,9140.06−0.0900
MPBL Partylist23,1890.06New00
PROMDI23,1440.06New00
Bida Katagumpay20,8850.05New00
Hugpong Federal19,0280.05New00
Arte14,1690.03−0.0800
Peoples Champ Guardians Partylist11,4920.03New00
Sulong Dignidad8,1200.02New00
Total41,950,339100.00–630
Valid votes41,950,33973.15+7.47
Invalid/blank votes15,400,61926.85−7.47
Total votes57,350,958––
Registered voters/turnout69,673,65582.31−0.67
Source: COMELEC (vote totals)
  1. ^ The URL of the website of the House of Representatives is, for example, www.congress.gov.ph.
  2. ^ a b Proclamation as winning party-list postponed due to ongoing disqualification case.[8]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Villaruel, Jauhn Etienne (May 20, 2024). "Escudero takes Senate helm after Zubiri resignation". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  2. ^ Panti, Llanesca T. (July 25, 2022). "House elects Romualdez as speaker". GMA News. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Article VI: THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT". Philippines Official Gazette. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "The Legislative Branch". Philippines Official Gazette. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  5. ^ Bueza, Michael (June 24, 2021). "LIST: New congressional districts in the 2022 elections". Rappler. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  6. ^ "The City Council of Manila". Manila Standard. June 24, 2002. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  7. ^ a b Elizalde, María Dolores (September 2013). "The Philippines at the Cortes de Cádiz". Philippine Studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints. 61 (3): 331–361. doi:10.1353/phs.2013.0014. hdl:10261/165907. S2CID 145232653.
  8. ^ Bordey, Hana; Panti, Llanesca T. (May 19, 2025). "Duterte Youth, Bagong Henerasyon proclamation postponed". GMA News Online. Retrieved May 19, 2025.

Sources

[edit]
[edit]
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