How many senators are there in the philippines

Roberto Puno Antipolo City, 1st District. Majority Floor Leader : Rep. Minority Floor Leader : Rep. Chairperson: Rep. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the internal budget of the House of Representatives, including budget preparation, submission and approval, disbursements, accounting, and financial operations.

Teddy Brawner Baguilat Jr. Ifugao, Lone District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to agrarian reform, the resettlement of and other support services for agrarian reform beneficiaries, and the implementation and amendment of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law. Mark Llandro Mendoza Batangas, 4th District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to food and agricultural production, agri-business, agricultural research and technology, soil survey and research, irrigation, farm credit and security, animal industry, and crop and livestock production.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the expenditures of the national government including payment of public indebtedness, creation or abolition and classification of positions in government, and the determination of salaries, allowances and benefits of government personnel.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to aquaculture and fisheries production and development, aquaculture business, use of aquatic resources, freshwater and fisheries culture research and technology, and conservation of rivers, lakes and other fisheries resources. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to banking and currency, government-owned or controlled banks and financial institutions, non-government banks and financial institutions, insurance, and securities.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the organization, operation, management, rules and regulations of the civil service, the welfare and benefits of government officers and employees, and the regulation and practice of professions. Jurisdiction: All matters directly and principally relating to amendments or revisions of the constitution.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to cooperatives consumer, producers, marketing, service, electric, and multi-purpose , urban- and rural-based credit, and the implementation or amendment of the Cooperative Code of the Philippines.

Vicente Belmonte Jr. Iligan City, Lone District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to illegal or prohibited drugs, its production, manufacture, use and trafficking, and the rehabilitation and treatment of drug dependents. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to ecosystem management, including pollution control.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to economic development planning and programs, inclusive of economic and socio-economic studies, and development policies and strategies. Reynaldo Umali Oriental Mindoro, 2nd District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the exploration, development, utilization or conservation of energy resources, and entities involved in energy or power generation, transmission, distribution and supply. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the duties, conduct, rights, privileges and immunities, dignity, integrity, and reputation of the House of Representatives and its members.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the relations of the Philippines with other countries, diplomatic and consular services, the United Nations UN and its agencies, and other international organizations and agencies. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to all forms and places of gaming and amusements.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance by officers and employees of the government, inclusive of investigations of any matter of public interest on its own initiative or upon an order by the House of Representatives. Jesus Sacdalan North Cotabato, 1st District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the creation, organization, operation, reorganization, and amendments of charters of government-owned or controlled corporations GOCCs including the Government Service Insurance System GSIS and the Social Security System SSS , but excluding government-owned or controlled banks and financial institutions.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the reorganization of the government and its branches, departments and instrumentalities, and the creation, abolition or change of the principal functions or nature of any government department, agency, commission or board. Eufranio Eriguel, M. La Union, 2nd District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to public health and hygiene, and quarantine, medical, hospital and other health facilities and services.

Alfredo Benitez Negros Occidental, 3rd District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to shelter delivery, and the management of urbanization issues and concerns such as urban planning and development, urban land reform and welfare of the urban poor. Guillermo Romarate Jr. Surigao del Norte, 2nd District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the protection and enhancement of human rights, assistance to victims of human rights violations and their families, the prevention of violations of human rights, and the punishment of perpetrators of such violations.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to postal, telegraph, radio, broadcast, cable television, telephone, convergence, computers and telecommunications technologies, information systems inclusive of hardware, software and content applications, mobile short messaging system SMS applications, and networks that enable access to online technology.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to inter-parliamentary relations and linkages with international parliamentary organizations, establishment of inter-parliamentary friendship societies, and visits of parliamentary delegations as well as other foreign dignitaries. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the administration of justice, the Judiciary, the practice of law and integration of the Bar, legal aid, penitentiaries, impeachment proceedings, registration of land titles, immigration, deportation, naturalization, and the definition of crimes and their penalties.

Marcelino Teodoro Marikina City, 1st District. Jurisdiction: All matters directly and principally relating to the grant, amendment, extension or revocation of franchises. Pedro Acharon Jr. South Cotabato, 1st District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to autonomous regions, provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays, including their revenues and expenditures. Winston Castelo Quezon City, 2nd District.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to policies and programs to promote and enhance the development of the Metro Manila area. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the development of Mindanao, including the preparation of a comprehensive and integrated development plan for Mindanao. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to Muslim affairs inclusive of the welfare of Muslim Filipinos, and the development of predominantly Muslim areas.

Nancy Catamco North Cotabato, 2nd District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to national cultural communities, and the development of predominantly cultural community areas. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to national defense and national security, the Armed Forces of the Philippines AFP , military bases, coast and geodetic surveys, and disaster relief and rescue. Francisco Matugas Surigao del Norte, 1st District.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to natural resources except energy and fisheries resources and their exploration, conservation, management and utilization, public domain lands, mines and minerals, forests, parks and wildlife, and marine resources.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to policies and programs on the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers OFWs and their families. Rogelio Espina, M. Biliran, Lone District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to population growth and family planning, population census and statistics, family relations, and care of the elderly. Salvio Fortuno Camarines Sur, 5th District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to policies and programs to address the poverty situation in the country and other actions to alleviate the plight of the poor, and promote their right to equal access to opportunities.

Jorge Almonte Misamis Occidental, 1st District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the production and dissemination of information to the public through all forms of mass communications and media such as print and broadcast media, movie and television, video, advertising, cable television, and the internet.

Jeffrey Ferrer Negros Occidental, 4th District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the suppression of criminality including those on illegal gambling, private armies, terrorism, organized crime and illegal drugs, regulation of firearms, firecrackers and pyrotechnics, civil defense, private security agencies, and the Philippine National Police PNP.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the planning, construction, maintenance, improvement and repair of public infrastructure inclusive of buildings, highways, bridges, roads, parks, drainage, flood control and water utilities. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas Pangasinan, 6th District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the revision and codification of laws. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the rules of the House of Representatives, rules of procedure in impeachment proceedings, order of business, calendar of business, the referral of bills, resolutions, speeches, committee reports, messages, and the creation of committees.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the development of rural areas and islands through policies, programs, and support services including livelihood and enterprise development, microfinancing, community mobilization and development, and access to rural projects funding and financing.

Victor Yu Zamboanga del Sur, 1st District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to science and technology including scientific and technological research and development, science and technology education including the Philippine Science High School System, intellectual property rights on biotechnology, and climate and weather forecasting.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to policies and programs on entrepreneurship development including the promotion of entrepreneurship, support to entrepreneurs, and the establishment and development of small and medium-scale enterprises SMEs.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the social development and welfare of persons with disabilities or special needs, including social services and interventions that enhance quality of life. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the protection and advancement of the right of suffrage, and the conduct of elections, plebiscites, initiatives, recalls and referenda. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the development and promotion of tourism and the tourist industry, both domestic and international.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to domestic and foreign trade, intellectual property rights, patents, standards, weights and measures, quality control, consumer protection, prices of commodities, handicrafts and cottage industries, and the development, regulation and diversification of industry and investments.

Cesar Sarmiento Catanduanes, Lone District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to land, sea, and air transportation, the establishment, operation, management and regulation of airports, seaports and other mass transportation systems including rail systems and roll on-roll off RO-RO systems, civil aviation, air transport agreements, transportation safety standards, air transport security, and maritime security.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the welfare of war veterans, veterans of military campaigns, military retirees, and their surviving spouses and beneficiaries. Romero Quimbo Marikina City, 2nd District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the fiscal, monetary and financial affairs of the national government, including tariff, taxation, revenues, borrowing, and credit and bonded indebtedness.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the needs, education and overall welfare of Filipino children. Linabelle Ruth Villarica Bulacan, 4th District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the rights and welfare of women and female children and youth, inclusive of their education, employment and working conditions, and concerns relating to gender equality. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to youth development, including the development of their leadership potentials and the promotion of their moral, physical, intellectual and social well-being, and sports development.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to policies and programs relating to bases conversion, the operation of special economic zones in former military bases, sale of military camps, relocation of military camps and personnel, and the construction of new military camps. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to policies and programs to promote the development of the Bicol region, inclusive of developmental projects, care programs and the Bicol River basin project.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to social, political, economic policies affecting the countries within the area, and the promotion of trade and investment among these countries. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to programs and policies relating to food production and distribution, sustained growth and self-reliance in the production of basic food commodities, the availability of these commodities to the people, and long-term food security for the nation.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the effects on various social sectors of World Trade Organization WTO policies, and other actions to harness opportunities offered by globalization for development.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to land use issues inclusive of the enhancement of resource use and management of indigenous cultural communities, preservation of historical and cultural heritage sites, and linkages among agencies and stakeholders in land resource management. Teodorico Haresco Jr. Aklan, Lone District. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to all policies and programs concerning the development of municipalities, cities, provinces, and other local communities in the northwest Luzon area.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to negotiations and other initiatives in pursuit of the peace process and national reconciliation, the cessation of hostilities generated by internal armed conflicts, and the welfare of rebel-returnees. Jurisdiction: All matters relating to policies and programs on reforestation, and other actions to ensure the implementation of a sustained community-based nationwide reforestation program.

Jurisdiction: All matters relating to the development of the Southern Tagalog area, inclusive agricultural areas, tourism, economic, and industrial estates and processing areas therein. Prior to the creation of a legislature in the Philippines, Filipinos, from time to time, were allowed to sit in the Spanish Cortes as representatives of the Philippine Islands.

In , the Spanish government allowed Filipinos to receive Spanish citizenship and appropriate representation in the Cortes. When the Cadiz Constitution was in full force and effect, Filipino representation became a standard in the Cortes.

However, in , the liberal Cortes finally abolished representation and declared that overseas territories of Spain to be ruled by special laws. This loss of representation was one of the main points that Jose Rizal and other propagandists were fighting for during the Propaganda movement. Later known as the Malolos Republic, it drafted the first constitution of the Philippines, which was also the first democratic constitution in Asia. The Congress included delegates from different provinces of the Philippines, some elected and some appointed.

It was a short-lived legislature, unable to pass any laws due to the onset of the Philippine-American War. Jacob Schurman to study and investigate the conditions in the Philippine Islands. This would be known as the first Philippine Commission.

It was followed by another investigative commission led by William Howard Taft in , which also had limited legislative and executive powers. From onwards, the Philippine Commission would be regularized.

After the organization of the Philippine Assembly see below in , the commission stayed on as the upper house of the legislature. Electoral representation in the Philippines by Filipinos began when the American insular government allowed partial self-governance by establishing the Philippine Assembly. The assembly, as the lower house, shared legislative power with the Philippine Commission, which remained under American control, as membership in the Philippine Commission was still restricted to appointed American officials.

In , still under American rule, the Philippines held its first national elections for the newly created representative body, which had an inaugural membership of 81 Filipinos representing their respective districts.

In the succeeding years, the number of districts were increased to 85 in , and 91 in From to , the Philippine legislature sent a representative to sit in the U. House of Representatives, as resident commissioner. Under Spain, the Philippines had also been given limited representation in the Spanish Cortes, and like the resident commissioners, they had the right to speak, but not to vote.

The restoration of Philippine independence in ended Philippine representation in the U. Note: To this day, Puerto Rico still has a resident commissioner in the U. House of Representatives. Upon the enactment of the Jones Law in , the Filipinos were subsequently granted the opportunity to hold other offices in the government.

Positions in the Philippine Senate were opened to Filipinos, with 12 senatorial districts and two senators elected from each. The inaugural President of the Senate in was Manuel L.

Quezon, representing the fifth senatorial district. He would hold this position until the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Philippines in For the 19 years prior to the Commonwealth, the Senate presidency was the highest position a Filipino could hold.

From the first Philippine Commission to the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, the Philippine legislature were passing public acts. This form of legislation is started at Congress, with the approval of the American governor-general of the Philippine Islands. On November 15, , Quezon took his oath as the first President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, giving control of the executive branch of government to the Filipinos.

It was also in this era that the Supreme Court of the Philippines was completely Filipinized. By virtue of the Constitution, the bicameral Philippine legislature was merged to form the unicameral National Assembly. Two elections were held under the Commonwealth. The first, in , elected the President of the Philippines as well as members of the National Assembly; the second, in , elected only members of the National Assembly.

The National Assembly would be retained until , when a new structure for the legislature was introduced through a constitutional amendment. This form of legislation is started at the National Assembly and approved by the President of the Philippines. Senators can serve for not more than two consecutive terms. The Senate has twenty-four 24 Senators. To qualify for election as a Representative, you have to be a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter in the district in which you seek to be elected, a resident therein for not less than one 1 year before the day of the election and at least twenty-five 25 years of age.

To qualify for election as a Senator, you also have to be a natural-born Filipino citizen, a registered voter, a resident of the Philippines for at least two 2 years before the day of the election and at least thirty-five 35 years old. Our Constitution provides that our Congress convenes 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 sessions to handle emergencies or urgent matters. A majority of all the Members of the House elects the Speaker. Those who voted for the Speaker belong to the Majority while those who voted for the Speaker's opponent belong to the Minority. The other officers of the House of Representatives are the thirty-two 32 Deputy Speakers , the Secretary-General and the Sergeant-at-Arms who are also elected by a majority of all the Representatives.

Committees, or small groups of Representatives, headed by committee chairpersons, study proposed laws called bills, and other measures relating to issues and concerns affecting our lives, our communities and our society. They conduct hearings that give us, citizens, opportunities to express our views on proposed laws or measures. Employees of the House constituting Committee Secretariats provide the committees with legislative support services such as research, report preparation, policy studies and the like.

When you visit the House of Representatives, you may see your Representatives in action during sessions or committee hearings. If you wish to speak with any one of them during sessions or hearings, the Pages who assist and run errands for our representatives in the Session Hall and in our conference rooms, can bring your notes and messages to the Representative you wish to speak with.

You may also send an email to your Representatives, attend or testify at committee hearings, or ask for information about the legislative process or a specific bill. Your Representatives will appreciate hearing from you because they know how important your views are in making good laws that effectively address the welfare of our people.

This bicameral legislature was inaugurated in October, In , 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. The legislative system was changed again in The Constitution established a unicameral National Assembly. But in , through an amendment to the Constitution, a bicameral Congress of the Philippines consisting of a House of Representatives and a Senate was created.

The Constitution abolished the bicameral Congress and created a unicameral Batasang Pambansa in a parliamentary system of government. The Constitution restored the presidential system of government together with a bicameral Congress of the Philippines. The President may call a special session at any time. Each House shall choose such other officers as it may deem necessary.

A penalty of suspension, when imposed, shall not exceed sixty days. The Senate and the House of Representatives shall each have an Electoral Tribunal, which shall be the sole judge of all contests relating to the election, returns, and qualifications of their respective Members. Each Electoral Tribunal shall be composed of nine Members, three of whom shall be Justices of the Supreme Court to be designated by the Chief Justice, and the remaining six shall be Members of the Senate or the House of Representatives, as the case may be, who shall be chosen on the basis of proportional representation from the political parties and the parties or organizations registered under the party-list system represented therein.

The senior Justice in the Electoral Tribunal shall be its Chairman. There shall be a Commission on Appointments consisting of the President of the Senate, as ex officio Chairman, twelve Senators and twelve Members of the House of Representatives, elected by each House on the basis of proportional representation from the political parties and parties or organizations registered under the party-list system represented therein.

The Chairman of the Commission shall not vote, except in case of a tie. The Commission shall act on all appointments submitted to it within thirty session days of the Congress from their submission. The Commission shall rule by a majority vote of all the Members. The Electoral Tribunals and the Commission on Appointments shall be constituted within thirty days after the Senate and the House of Representatives shall have been organized with the election of the President and the Speaker.

The Commission on Appointments shall meet only while the Congress is in session, at the call of its Chairman or a majority of all its Members, to discharge such powers and functions as are herein conferred upon it. The records and books of accounts of the Congress shall be preserved and be open to the public in accordance with law, and such books shall be audited by the Commission on Audit which shall publish annually an itemized list of amounts paid to and expenses incurred for each Member.

The Senate or the House of Representatives or any of its respective committees may conduct inquiries in aid of legislation in accordance with its duly published rules of procedure. The rights of persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall be respected. The heads of departments may upon their own initiative, with the consent of the President, or upon the request of either House, as the rules of each House shall provide, appear before and be heard by such House on any matter pertaining to their departments.

Written questions shall be submitted to the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives at least three days before their scheduled appearance. Interpellations shall not be limited to written questions, but may cover matters related thereto.

When the security of the State or the public interest so requires and the President so states in writing, the appearance shall be conducted in executive session. Unless sooner withdrawn by resolution of the Congress, such powers shall cease upon the next adjournment thereof.

All appropriation, revenue or tariff bills, bills authorizing increase of the public debt, bills of local application, and private bills shall originate exclusively in the House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments.

The form, content, and manner of preparation of the budget shall be prescribed by law. Any such provision or enactment shall be limited in its operation to the appropriation to which it relates. Upon the last reading of a bill, no amendment thereto shall be allowed, and the vote thereon shall be taken immediately thereafter, and the yeas and nays entered in the Journal.