House of Representatives of the Philippines

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House of Representatives of the Philippines
Type Lower house
Houses House of Representatives
House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles, Lakas-CMD
since February 5, 2008
Deputy Speakers Arnulfo T. Fuentebella Luzon
Raul V. del Mar Visayas
Simeon A. Datumanong Mindanao
Eric D. Singson Central Luzon
Ma. Amelita C. Villarosa Women
Members Not more than 250 Representatives
currently, only 240 Representatives
Political groups Lakas-CMD
KAMPI
Liberal
LDP
GO
Independent
PMP
Nacionalista
NPC
Others
Last elections May 14, 2007
Meeting place Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City
Web site http://www.congress.gov.ph

The House of Representatives of the Philippines (Filipino: Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan ng Pilipinas) is the lower chamber of the Congress of the Philippines. The Senate is the upper chamber. The House is often informally called the Congress. Members of the house are called Congressmen (mga kinatawan or mga konggresista) and their title is Representative. Congressmen are elected to a three-year term and can be reelected, but cannot serve more than three consecutive terms. Most congressmen are a district representatives, representing a particular geographical area. There are 212 legislative districts in the country, each composed of about 250,000 people. There are also Sectoral Representatives elected through the party-list system who constitute not more than twenty percent of the total number of Representatives.

The official headquarters of the House of Representatives is at the Batasang Pambansa (literally, national legislature) located at the Constitution Hill in Quezon City in Metro Manila. The building is often simply called Batasan.

Contents

[edit] History

When the Philippines was under American colonial rule, the legislative body was the Philippine Commission which existed from September 1900 to October 1907. The President of the United States appointed the members of the Philippine Commission.

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 October 1907. Through the leadership of Speaker Sergio Osmeña and Floor Leader Manuel L. Quezon, the Rules of the 59th Congress of the United States was substantially adopted as the Rules of the Philippine Legislature.

In 1916, the Jones Law or the Philippine Autonomy Act 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. The legislative system was changed again in 1935. The 1935 Constitution 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 adopted.

Upon the inauguration of the Republic of the Philippines in 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. The 1973 Constitution abolished the bicameral Congress and created a unicameral Batasang Pambansa parliamentary system of government.

The 1987 Constitution restored the presidential system of government together with a bicameral Congress of the Philippines.

The presiding officer is the Speaker.

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[edit] Speakers of the House

[edit] Latest election

[discuss] – [edit]
Summary of the 14 May 2007 House of Representatives of the Philippines election results
Parties Seats
This is the division of seats as published on the website of the House of Representatives.
The first party affiliation mentioned is counted. This is not the result of the elections.
Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Includes SARRO, BO-PK, PROMDI, KDT and UNA) 70
Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Includes Padajon Surigao, 1-CEBU, UNA and PTM) 47
Nationalist People's Coalition (Includes Achievers with Integrity Movement) 26
Liberal Party 16
Nacionalista Party (Includes Abante Viscaya) 6
Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan 4
Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas 3
Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino 3
Genuine Opposition 3
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino 3
Koalisyon ng mga Pulitikong na Maka-Administrasyon 3
Independents (Caucuses with the Genuine Opposition) 5
Buhay Hayaan Yumabong 3
Bayan Muna 2
Citizen's Battle Against Corruption 2
Gabriela Women's Party 2
Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives 2
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan 1
Abono 1
Advocacy for Teacher Empowerment Through Action, Cooperation and Harmony Towards Educational Reforms, Inc. 1
Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines, Inc. 1
Akbayan ! Citizens' Action Party 1
Alliance of Rural Concerns 1
Anak Mindanao 1
Anak Pawis 1
An Waray 1
Cooperative NATCCO Network Party 1
Luzon Farmers Party 1
Total 240
Source: Congress Web site
[discuss] – [edit]
Summary of the 14 May 2007 House of Representatives of the Philippines Party-List election result
Party-list Votes % Seats
Below is the result of the party-list vote. Most seats in the Congress are not elected through the party list system.
Buhay Hayaan Yumabong 1,169,248 7.42 3
Bayan Muna 976,699 6.20 2
Citizen's Battle Against Corruption 755,605 4.79
Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives 621,211 3.94 1
Gabriela Women's Party 621,086 3.94
Advocacy for Teacher Empowerment Through Action, Cooperation and Harmony Towards Educational Reforms, Inc. 487,354 3.09
Akbayan ! Citizens' Action Party 466,019 2.96
Alagad 423,090 2.68
Cooperative NATCCO Network Party 409,812 2.60
Luzon Farmers Party 409,133 2.60
Bagong Alyansang Tagapagtaguyod ng Adhikaing Sambayanan 385,654 2.45
Alliance of Rural Concerns 373,840 2.37
Anak Pawis 369,366 2.34
Abono 339,897 2.16
Anak Mindanao 338,125 2.15
Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines, Inc. 328,649 2.09
Total 30,049,524 21
Source: COMELEC

[edit] District representation

Main article: Legislative districts of the Philippines

All provinces and several cities have at least one congressional/legislative district, whose residents vote for their own congressman. Each district covers a population of approximately 250,000 to 500,000 people. Provinces that have only one congressional/legislative district are divided into two provincial districts for the purpose of electing Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council) members. For provinces that have more than one congressional/legislative district, the provincial districts are identical to the corresponding congressional/legislative district.

[edit] Congressional/legislative districts in provinces

[edit] Congressional/legislative districts in cities

[edit] Sectoral representation

The party-list system is the name designated for the sectoral representation. Under the 1987 Constitution, the electorate can vote for certain party-list organizations in order to give voice to significant minorities of society that would otherwise not be adequately represented through geographical district. From 1987-1998, sectoral representatives were appointed by the President.

Since 1998, each voter votes for a single party-list organization. Organizations that garner at least 2% of the total number of votes are awarded one representative for every 2% up to a maximum of three representatives. Thus, there can be at most 50 sectoral representatives in Congress, though usually no more than 20 are elected because many organizations do not reach the required 2% minimum number of votes.

After the 2007 election, in a controversial decision, COMELEC changed how it allocates the party-list seats. Under the new formula only one party will have the maximum 3 seats. It based its decision on a formula contained in a Supreme Court decision.

[edit] Malapportionment

Since every province is allotted at least one representative in the House of Representatives regardless of population, this results in seats that represent populations that do not meet the 250,000 to 500,000 apportionment criterion. Based on 2007 census figures, there are 15 single-district provinces that have under 250,000 inhabitants: Abra, Apayao, Aurora, Batanes, Biliran, Camiguin, Catanduanes, Dinagat Islands, Guimaras, Ifugao, Kalinga, Marinduque, Mountain Province, Quirino, and Siquijor.

In addition, upon becoming a highly-urbanized city in 1995, Mandaluyong was granted its own seat in Congress, leaving the municipality (now city) of San Juan with its own seat despite not meeting the population requirement — mainly because in order to meet the threshold and keep the district contiguous, San Juan would have to be redistricted with a part of either Manila or Quezon City because no adjacent city or municipality other than Mandaluyong can be wholly combined with San Juan to form a justifiable single district. To date, the population of San Juan City is still under the 250,000 threshold.

The apportionment of congressional districts is not done regularly by a specially-mandated independent agency, but rather through Republic Acts which are drawn up by members of congress. Apportionment, therefore, is often influenced by political motivations. Incumbent representatives who are not permitted to hold their seats by law after three consecutive terms sometimes resort to dividing their district, or even creating a new province which will be guaranteed a seat, just so that they will be able to run and serve terms in a technically different district. Likewise, politicians whose political fortunes are likely to be jeopardized by any change in district boundaries may delay or even ignore the need for reapportionment.

Currently the district with the lowest population is the lone district of Batanes, with only 15,974 inhabitants in 2007. The most populated congressional district, the 2nd District of Quezon City, has 95 times more inhabitants, with a total population of 1,515,455. The most under-represented jurisdiction is the province of Cavite, with only 3 seats out of a possible 11.

Because the Constitution of the Philippines sets the number of seats in the lower house at 250 — with up to 20% (50 seats) allotted for party-list representatives — and 219 district seats are already in place, it is unlikely that proper and equitable reapportionment of districts can be implemented unless constitutional amendments are introduced to either increase the number of available seats in the lower house, increase the population requirement per district, or overhaul the electoral system so that members of the lower house are voted at-large.

Provinces that can gain additional seats using the 250,000-per-district minimum threshold to calculate the maximum number of seats and the 500,000-per-district maximum to get the minimum number of seats:
Provincial figures exclude independent cities unless indicated, and include component cities and municipalities even if they themselves meet the population requirement.

Province Population (2007) Current representation Minimum constitutionally mandated representation Maximum possible representation
Agusan del Sur 609,447 1 2 2
Albay 1,190,823 3 3 4
Batangas 2,245,869 4 5 8
Bohol 1,229,724 3 3 4
Bukidnon 1,190,284 3 3 4
Bulacan 2,826,926 5 (includes 1 from San Jose del Monte City) 6 11
Cagayan 1,072,571 3 3 4
Camarines Norte 513,785 1 2 2
Camarines Sur
(including Naga City)		 1,693,821 4 4 6
Cavite 2,856,765 3 6 11
Cebu 2,439,005 5 + 1 shared with Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities 5 9
Cotabato 1,121,974 2 3 4
Davao del Norte 847,440 2 2 3
Davao del Sur 822,406 2 2 3
Iloilo 1,691,878 5 4 6
Isabela
(including Santiago City)		 1,401,495 4 3 5
Laguna 2,473,530 4 5 9
Lanao del Norte 538,283 1 + 1 shared with Iligan City 2 2
Lanao del Sur 1,138,544 2 3 4
Leyte
(including Ormoc City)		 1,732,036 5 4 6
Maguindanao 710,829 1 2 2
Negros Occidental 2,370,269 6 5 9
Negros Oriental 1,231,904 3 3 4
Nueva Ecija 1,853,853 4 4 7
Palawan
(including Puerto Princesa City)		 892,660 2 2 3
Pampanga 1,911,951 4 4 7
Pangasinan
(including Dagupan City)		 2,645,395 6 6 10
Quezon
(including Lucena City)		 1,882,900 4 4 7
Rizal 2,298,691 4 (includes 2 from Antipolo City) 5 9
Shariff Kabunsuan 562,866 1 shared with Cotabato City 2 2
South Cotabato 767,254 1 + 1 shared with General Santos City 2 3
Sulu 849,670 2 2 3
Tarlac 1,243,449 3 3 4
Zamboanga del Norte 907,238 2 2 3
Zamboanga del Sur 914,278 2 2 3

Independent cities that have met the population requirement (as of 2007) but are still represented in congress as part of a province:

Highly urbanized city Population (2007) Current representation in congress Possible resulting reapportionment upon exclusion from province
Angeles City 314,493 1st District of Pampanga Pampanga (pop: 1,911,951) reapportioned into 4-7 districts
Butuan City 298,378 1st District of Agusan del Norte Agusan del Norte (pop: 314,027) reverts to being a lone district; Las Nieves becomes part of lone district
Cotabato City 257,997 Lone District of Shariff Kabunsuan Shariff Kabunsuan (pop: 562,866) reapportioned into 2 districts
General Santos City 592,542 1st District of South Cotabato South Cotabato (pop: 767,254) reapportioned into 2-3 districts
Iligan City 308,046 1st District of Lanao del Norte Lanao del Norte (pop: 538,283) retains 2 seats with changes to district boundaries
Lapu-Lapu City 292,530 6th District of Cebu Cebu (pop: 2,439,005) reapportioned into 5-9 districts
Mandaue City 318,575 6th District of Cebu Cebu (pop: 2,439,005) reapportioned into 5-9 districts

Highly urbanized cities that can gain more representation using the 250,000-per-district minimum threshold to calculate the maximum number of seats and the 500,000-per-district maximum to get the minimum number of seats:

Province Population (2000) Current representation Minimum constitutionally mandated representation Maximum possible representation
Caloocan City 1,378,586 2 3 5
Cebu City 798,809 2 2 3
Davao City 1,363,337 3 3 5
Las Piñas City 532,330 1 2 2
Pasig City 617,301 1 2 2
Quezon City 2,645,395 4 6 10
Zamboanga City 774,407 2 2 3

Component cities and municipalities that have over 250,000 inhabitants and can potentially be given their own representation in Congress:

Component city/municipality Population (2007)
Bacoor, Cavite 441,197
Batangas City, Batangas 295,231
Biñan, Laguna 262,735
Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija 259,267
Cainta, Rizal 289,833
Calamba City, Laguna 360,281
Dasmariñas, Cavite 556,330
Imus, Cavite 253,158
Lipa City, Batangas 260,568
San Fernando City, Pampanga 269,365
San Pedro, Laguna 281,808
Santa Rosa City, Laguna 379,520
Tarlac City, Tarlac 314,155
Taytay, Rizal 262,485

Provinces and cities that have more than the number of seats to which they are entitled:

Province/City Population (2007) Current representation Maximum possible representation
Davao Oriental 486,104 2 1
Marikina City 424,610 2 1
Surigao del Norte 409,468 2 1

[edit] 2007 Congress of the Philippines Bombing

Main article: 2007 Batasang Pambansa bombing

Basilan Province Lone District Representative Wahab Akbar was killed in a bomb attack at the House of Representatives of the Philippines, raising the death toll to two with at least 10 injured, hospital staff and radio reports said.

Three of the injured are members of Congress.

A session of Congress had just ended and members were leaving when the blast happened.

One witness says the explosion appeared to come from a car parked outside the Congress, which is just north of the capital, Manila.

A police chief says one of the people killed was the driver of a congressman who was sitting in a parked van near the building.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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Legislatures of the Philippines
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Legislative districts of the Philippines

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