# Referendums in the Philippines

Referendums in the Philippines are occasionally held at a national, regional or local level. Referendums can either by national or local in scope. In the Philippines, "referendums" and "plebiscites" mean different things.

## Terminology

According to the Initiative and Referendum Act, a referendum is "the power of the electorate to approve or reject a legislation through an election called for the purpose." A plebiscite, on the other hand, is "the electoral process by which an initiative on the Constitution is approved or rejected by the people."

### Referendums

The constitution mandates a referendum for these instances:
* Adoption of a new name for the country, or a new national anthem or a new seal
* Allowing foreign military troops in the Philippines if Congress requires
The Initiative and Referendum Act allows for referendums on these cases:
* A petition of at least 10% of registered voters, with 3% within every legislative district for local initiatives
** If there is only one legislative district in a province, city or municipality, it has to be 3% within each municipality in a province, or each barangay in a city
** For barangay initiatives, it has to be at least 10% of registered voters
* A local legislative body can also submit to the electorate approval of any ordinance or resolution

### Plebiscites

The constitution requires a plebiscite for these:
* Creation, division, merger, abolishment or major boundary changes of a province, city, municipality or barangay (village).
* Creation of special metropolitan political subdivisions
* Creation of autonomous regions
* Approval of an amendment or revision to the constitution
The Initiative and Referendum Act allows for plebiscites on these cases:
* A petition of at least 12% of registered voters, with 3% within every legislative district, for amending the constitution
However, the Supreme Court declared the Initiative and Referendum Act procedures for amending the constitution as fatally defective, although it did not affect the operation of the law for other types of initiatives.

### Other

The constitution allows Congress to submit to the electorate the question of calling a constitutional convention; it did not specify what kind of balloting this is.

## Administration

Just like any other electoral exercise, referendums and plebiscites are administered by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

## National referendums
### Spanish colonial period

In 1599, King Philip II of Spain ordered a referendum in several areas to confirm Spanish sovereignty in the islands. It was approved.

### American colonial period

In 1935, the first national plebiscite was held, for the ratification of the 1935 constitution. This was seen as an independence referendum, and those in favor of adoption the constitution overwhelmingly outnumbered those who were opposed.
Two years later, a plebiscite asked women if they wanted suffrage for themselves. Unlike other referendums, 300,000 votes to the affirmative were needed; Filipino women turned out in droves, with more than 447,000 voting for suffrage.
Two years later, a plebiscite asked the people about economic adjustments. These were amendments to the Tydings–McDuffie Act. The people overwhelmingly approved the amendments.
In 1940, a plebiscite asked three questions to the people. These were amendments to the constitution that restored the bicameral Congress, allowed the re-election of the president, and created the Commission on Elections. The people approved all three, but not as overwhelmingly as the 1935 and 1939 plebiscites.

### Third Republic

The Americans granted independence to the Philippines on July 4, 1946. Prior to that, Congress passed Commonwealth Act No. 733, the local version of the Bell Trade Act passed by the United States Congress, which include parity rights for both Filipino and American citizens to exploit Philippine natural resources. As this meant amending the constitution, a plebiscite was called after it was passed by the Philippine Congress by much difficulty. Turnout was low, but the measure was approved by the people by a 5:1 margin.
By 1967, there were moves to revise the constitution. Congress passed amendments to the constitution where it increased the number of congressmen, and allowed incumbent members of Congress to sit in the incoming constitutional convention. In a plebiscite held together with the 1967 Senate election, the people overwhelmingly rejected both questions. This was the only time the government lost. A constitutional convention was elected in 1970, and new constitution was put to a plebiscite in 1973.

### Martial law and Fourth Republic

President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law on September 23, 1972. Martial law prevented Congress to convene. The constitutional convention presented to him the draft constitution by December 1972. Meanwhile, some senators have been organizing to convene on the supposed resumption of Congress by January 22, 1973. Marcos then created barangay or citizens' assemblies. These assemblies, instead of via secret ballot, voted via showing of hands on the new constitution, and whether to hold another plebiscite for approving the constitution, from January 10 to 15, 1973. The citizens' assemblies overwhelmingly approved the constitution, and voted not to hold another plebiscite.
Marcos had several more referendums, all being voted by citizens' assemblies, and won on overwhelming margins.

### Fifth Republic

Marcos was overthrown after the People Power Revolution, where he was alleged to have cheated during the 1986 presidential election. Corazon Aquino, Marcos's opponent, became president, and did away with the 1973 constitution. She appointed a constitutional commission that drafted a new constitution. This was then approved by the people in a plebiscite in a margin of more than 3:1.

## Local plebiscites

Local plebiscites have mostly been for the creation, inclusion to, or division of new autonomous regions, provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays.
This is a list of local plebiscites, from the regional down to the municipal level. A law, proclamation, resolution, or ordinance has to be passed for a plebiscite to take place.
| Acronym | Meaning | Implementing agency |
| BA | Bangsamoro Act | Bangsamoro Parliament |
| BP | Batas Pambansa (National Law) | Batasang Pambansa (National Legislature) |
| CO | City Ordinance | Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) |
| MMAA | Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act | ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly |
| PD | Presidential Decree | President of the Philippines |
| PP | Presidential Proclamation | President of the Philippines |
| RA | Republic Act | Congress of the Philippines |
| SPR | Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution | Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) |

### Regional-level plebiscites

These plebiscites asked for the creation of, or the inclusion of a place, in an autonomous region.
The 1987 constitution states that there are two autonomous regions: Muslim Mindanao and the Cordillera. Five successful plebiscites in Mindanao have led to the creation of the present-day Bangsamoro via a 2019 plebiscite. In the Cordillera, two plebiscites have failed, the latest in 1998, and it is still treated as a regular administrative region.
| Date | Location | Proposition | Enabling law | Result |
| April 17, 1977 | Central Mindanao, Davao del Sur, Palawan, South Cotabato and Western Mindanao | Creation of autonomous regions in Mindanao | PD 1092 PD 1098 PD 1111 | Ratified for two regions |
| May 17, 1982 | Central Mindanao and Western Mindanao | Merger of Lupong Tagapagpaganap of Regions IX and XII as one executive body | PD 1843 | Rejected |
| November 19, 1989 | Central Mindanao, Davao del Sur, Palawan, South Cotabato and Western Mindanao | Creation of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao | RA 6734 | Ratified in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, rejected elsewhere |
| January 30, 1990 | Cordillera Administrative Region | Creation of the Cordillera Autonomous Region | RA 6766 | Ratified in Ifugao, rejected elsewhere; ratification nullified by the Supreme Court. |
| March 8, 1998 | Cordillera Administrative Region | Creation of the Cordillera Autonomous Region | RA 8438 | Rejected |
| August 14, 2001 | Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao | Increased autonomy, expansion of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao | RA 9054 | Ratified in every province |
| August 14, 2001 | Central Mindanao, Palawan, Southern Mindanao, Western Mindanao | Inclusion to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao | RA 9054 | Ratified in Basilan and Marawi, rejected elsewhere |
| January 21 and February 6, 2019 | Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao | Creation of the Bangsamoro | RA 11054 | Originally ratified in the original ARMM, then nullified in Sulu by the Supreme Court. |
| January 21 and February 6, 2019 | Basilan, Cotabato City, Lanao del Norte, 7 municipalities in Cotabato | Inclusion to the Bangsamoro | RA 11054 | Ratified in Cotabato City and 63 barangays in Cotabato, rejected elsewhere |
* ↑ The Supreme Court ruled that autonomous regions should consist of more than one province.

### Provincial-level plebiscites

These plebiscites asked for the creation of a province or involved an entire province. A group of cities and municipalities (most usually a legislative district or, formerly, sub-provinces) that aim to become provinces have provincehood (in the case of legislative districts) or conversion (in the case of sub-provinces) plebiscites. There had also been plebiscites asking for the transfer of the provincial capital from one municipality to another, the selection of a provincial capital, and the renaming of a province. There was also a plebiscite asking a province if they would approve the conversion of a component city within that province to a highly urbanized city. A "highly urbanized city" is politically, administratively, and fiscally independent from a province.
| Date | Location | Proposition | Enabling law | Result |
| November 12, 1965 | Samar | Division of Samar to create the provinces of Eastern Samar, Northern Samar and Western Samar (renamed in 1969 as "Samar") | RA 4221 | Ratified |
| November 14, 1967 | Agusan | Division of Agusan to create the provinces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur | RA 4979 | Ratified |
| November 11, 1969 | Nueva Vizcaya | Creation of the sub-province of Quirino | RA 5554 | Ratified |
| November 9, 1971 | Quirino | Conversion of Quirino to a province | RA 6394 | Ratified |
| November 9, 1971 | Siquijor | Conversion of Siquijor to a province | RA 6398 | Ratified |
| November 9, 1971 | Siquijor | Selection of provincial capital | RA 6398 | Siquijor was chosen |
| April 17, 1977 | Basilan | Confirmation on the conversion of City of Basilan to a province | PD 1111 | Ratified |
| April 17, 1977 | North Cotabato, Maguindanao, and Sultan Kudarat | Confirmation of the division of Cotabato to create the provinces of North Cotabato, Maguindanao, and Sultan Kudarat | PD 1111 | Ratified |
| April 17, 1977 | Tawi-Tawi | Confirmation of the creation of Tawi-Tawi | PD 1111 | Ratified |
| May 20, 1979 | Aurora | Conversion of Aurora to a province | BA 7 | Ratified |
| March 5, 1982 | Lanao del Norte | Transfer of the provincial capital from Iligan to Tubod | BP 181 | Ratified |
| December 18, 1982 | Maguindanao | Transfer of the provincial capital from Sultan Kudarat to Maganoy | PD 1170 | Ratified |
| January 3, 1986 | Part of Negros Occidental | Creation of Negros del Norte | BP 885 | Ratified; then nullified by the Supreme Court |
| May 11, 1992 | Biliran | Conversion of Biliran to a province | RA 7160 | Ratified |
| May 11, 1992 | Guimaras | Conversion of Guimaras to a province | RA 7160 | Ratified |
| May 8, 1995 | Kalinga-Apayao | Conversion of Apayao and Kalinga to separate provinces | RA 7878 | Ratified |
| June 20, 1995 | Isabela | Division of Isabela to create the provinces of Isabela del Norte and Isabela del Sur | RA 7891 | Rejected |
| March 8, 1998 | Davao del Norte | Creation of Compostela Valley | RA 8470 | Ratified |
| February 22, 2001 | Zamboanga del Sur | Creation of Zamboanga Sibugay | RA 8973 | Ratified |
| October 28, 2006 | Maguindanao | Creation of Shariff Kabunsuan | MMAA 201 | Ratified; then nullified by the Supreme Court |
| December 5, 2006 | Surigao del Norte | Creation of Dinagat Islands | RA 9355 | Ratified; |
| March 29, 2008 | Basilan | Creation of Tabuan-Lasa | MMAA 187 | Ratified |
| December 13, 2008 | Quezon | Creation of the Quezon del Sur, and renaming the rest of Quezon as "Quezon del Norte" | RA 9495 | Rejected |
| October 28, 2013 | Davao del Sur | Creation of Davao Occidental | RA 10360 | Ratified |
| December 7, 2019 | Compostela Valley | Renaming of Compostela Valley to "Davao de Oro" | RA 11297 | Ratified |
| March 13, 2021 | Palawan | Division of Palawan to create the provinces of Palawan del Norte, Palawan del Sur, and Palawan Oriental | RA 11259 | Rejected |
| September 17, 2022 | Maguindanao | Division of Maguindanao to create the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur | RA 11150 | Ratified |
| October 30, 2023 | Bulacan | Conversion of San Jose del Monte to a highly urbanized city | PP 1057 s. 2020 | Rejected |
* ↑ The Supreme Court ruled that the province does not meet the requirements of the 1983 Local Government Code, and by not including the rest of Negros Occidental in the plebiscite.
* ↑ The Supreme Court ruled that the creation of legislative districts, and provinces by extension, by a body other than Congress as unconstitutional
* ↑ Originally nullified by the Supreme Court as the province did not pass the minimum requirements for becoming a province, but the court reversed its original ruling

### Municipal- and city-level plebiscites

These plebiscites involved entire municipalities or cities, asked for the incorporation of a new municipality, or asked for cityhood. Most plebiscites involving entire municipalities ask for its cityhood, conversion from being a component city to a highly urbanized city (see provincial-level plebiscites section above), creation of a new municipality from a group of barangays within it, its renaming, the creation of new barangays, transfer of one barangay from one municipality to another, or merger with other municipalities in order to become a city.
| Date | Location | Proposition | Enabling law | Result |
| November 14, 1961 | Caloocan, Rizal | Cityhood of Caloocan | RA 3278 | Ratified |
| November 12, 1963 | Angeles, Pampanga | Cityhood of Angeles | RA 3700 | Ratified |
| November 12, 1963 | Ligao, Albay | Creation of Pioduran | RA 3187 | Ratified |
| November 9, 1965 | Bago, Negros Occidental | Cityhood of Bago | RA 4382 | Ratified |
| November 9, 1965 | General Santos, Cotabato | Cityhood of General Santos, and renaming it to "Rajah Buayan" | RA 4413 | Rejected |
| November 9, 1965 | San Carlos, Pangasinan | Cityhood of San Carlos | RA 4487 | Ratified |
| November 9, 1965 | Laoag, Ilocos Norte | Cityhood of Laoag | RA 4584 | Ratified |
| November 9, 1965 | La Carlota, Negros Occidental | Cityhood of La Carlota | RA 4585 | Ratified |
| November 9, 1965 | Batangas, Batangas | Cityhood of Batangas, and renaming it to "Laurel City" | RA 4586 | Rejected |
| November 11, 1969 | Puerto Princesa, Palawan | Cityhood of Puerto Princesa | RA 5906 | Ratified |
| November 11, 1969 | Tarlac, Tarlac | Cityhood of Tarlac | RA 5907 | Rejected |
| November 11, 1969 | Almagro, Samar | Creation of Tagapul-an | RA 5970 | Failed to be held |
| November 8, 1971 | Oroquieta, Misamis Occidental | Creation of Pines | RA 6022 | Rejected |
| November 8, 1971 | Lanuza, Surigao del Sur | Creation of Carmen | RA 6367 | Ratified |
| November 8, 1971 | Dupax, Nueva Vizcaya | Creation of Dupax del Sur, and renaming the rest of Dupax as "Dupax del Norte" | RA 6372 | Ratified |
| November 8, 1971 | Olongapo | Renaming of Olongapo to "Pres. Magsaysay" | RA 6340 | Rejected |
| December 8, 1978 | Dao, Antique | Renaming of Dao to "Tobias Fornier" | BP 10 | Ratified |
| February 4, 1979 | Gandara, Samar | Creation of San Jorge | BP 11 | Ratified |
| February 4, 1979 | Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte | Creation of Tampilisan | BP 14 | Ratified |
| February 4, 1979 | Manukan, Zamboanga del Norte | Creation of Ponot | BP 15 | Ratified |
| April 3, 1979 | Tarangnan, Samar | Creation of Pagsanghan | BP 16 | Ratified |
| April 17, 1979 | Labason, Zamboanga del Norte | Creation of Gutalac | BP 19 | Ratified |
| May 20, 1979 | Asuncion, Davao del Norte | Creation of San Vicente | BP 23 | Ratified |
| July 10, 1979 | Dupax del Norte and Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya | Creation of Alfonso Castaňeda | BP 27 | Ratified |
| February 21, 1980 | Malita, Davao del Sur | Creation of Don Marcelino | BP 47 | Ratified |
| February 23, 1980 | Malangas and Silay, Zamboanga del Sur | Creation of Diplahan | BP 48 | Ratified |
| September 22, 1980 | Bayugan, Agusan del Sur | Creation of Sibagat | BP 56 | Ratified |
| September 22, 1980 | Midsalip, Ramon Magsaysay, Mahayag, Dumingag and Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur | Creation of Don Mariano Marcos | BP 60 | Ratified |
| December 2, 1980 | Catarman, Samar | Creation of Lope de Vega | BP 69 | Ratified |
| December 6, 1980 | Mayoyao, Ifugao | Creation of Aguinaldo | BP 86 | Ratified |
| December 6, 1980 | Matalam, North Cotabato | Creation of Antipas | BP 88 | Ratified |
| January 10, 1981 | Carmona, Cavite | Creation of General Mariano Alvarez | BP 75 | Ratified |
| April 7, 1981 | Banga and Norala, South Cotabato | Creation of Santo Niño | BP 90 | Ratified |
| April 7, 1981 | Talibon and Trinidad, Bohol | Creation of Bien Unido | BP 93 | Ratified |
| April 7, 1981 | Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte | Creation of Baliguian | BP 101 | Ratified |
| May 17, 1982 | Carmen, North Cotabato | Creation of Banisilan | BP 141 | Ratified |
| May 17, 1982 | Salug, Zamboanga del Nortre | Creation of Godod | BP 146 | Ratified |
| May 17, 1982 | Balabagan, Lanao del Norte | Creation of Kapatagan | BP 168 | Ratified |
| May 17, 1982 | Clarin, Tudela and Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental | Creation of Don Mariano Marcos | BP 171 | Ratified |
| May 17, 1982 | Margosatubig, Zamboanga del Sur | Creation of Vincenzo A. Sagun | BP 173 | Ratified |
| May 17, 1982 | Ipil, Zamboanga del Sur | Creation of Roseller Lim | BP 183 | Ratified |
| May 17, 1982 | Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte | Creation of Bacungan | BP 204 | Ratified |
| May 17, 1982 | Pikit, North Cotabato | Creation of Aleosan | BP 206 | Ratified |
| January 28, 1983 | Hungduan and Banaue, Ifugao | Creation of Tinoc | BP 184 | Ratified |
| January 28, 1983 | Lagawe and Banaue, Ifugao | Creation of Hingyon | BP 239 | Ratified |
| September 7, 1983 | Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte | Creation of Remedios T. Romualdez | BP 236 | Ratified |
| September 24, 1983 | Maddela, Quirino | Creation of Nagtipunan | BP 345 | Ratified |
| October 7, 1983 | San Agustin, Romblon | Creation of Imelda | BP 234 | Ratified |
| October 8, 1983 | Quezon, Palawan | Creation of Marcos | BP 386 | Ratified |
| October 15, 1983 | Siasi, Sulu | Creation of Pandami | BP 324 | Ratified |
| October 15, 1983 | Tiboli and Surallah, South Cotabato | Creation of Lake Sebu | BP 249 | Ratified |
| March 10, 1989 | Caloocan | Reorganization of barangays | RA 6714 | Rejected |
| May 21, 1989 | Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte | Creation of Limasawa | PP 392 s. 1989 | Ratified |
| July 9, 1989 | Kalamansig and Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat | Creation of Senator Ninoy Aquino | RA 6712 | Ratified |
| December 31, 1989 | Dinagat, Surigao del Norte | Creation of San Jose | RA 6769 | Ratified |
| April 21, 1990 | Tarlac, Tarlac | Creation of San Jose | RA 6842 | Ratified |
| May 26, 1990 | Labason, Zamboanga del Norte | Creation of Kalawit | RA 6851 | Ratified |
| April 7, 1991 | Buluan, Maguindanao | Creation of General Salipada K. Pendatun | MMAA 3 | Ratified |
| November 24, 1991 | Kapalong, Davao del Norte | Creation of Talaingod | RA 7081 | Ratified |
| December 27, 1991 | Magpet, North Cotabato | Creation of Arakan | RA 7152 | Ratified |
| January 5, 1992 | Dinas, San Miguel, Dumalinao and San Pablo, Zamboanga del Sur | Creation of Guipos | RA 7159 | Ratified |
| January 19, 1992 | Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur | Creation of Tigbao | RA 7162 | Ratified |
| July 5, 1992 | Kiangan, Ifugao | Creation of Asipulo | RA 7173 | Ratified |
| September 12, 1992 | Culion leper colony, Palawan | Creation of Culion | RA 7193 | Ratified |
| April 10, 1994 | Mandaluyong | Cityhood of Mandaluyong | RA 7675 | Ratified |
| May 5, 1994 | Linapacan, Palawan | Renaming of Linapacan to "Gaudencio E. Abordo" | RA 6860 | Rejected |
| May 5, 1994 | Brooke's Point, Palawan | Creation of Sofronio Española | RA 7679 | Ratified |
| May 28, 1994 | San Vicente, Davao del Norte | Renaming of San Vicente to "Laak" | | Ratified |
| July 6, 1994 | Santiago, Isabela | Cityhood of Santiago | RA 7720 | Ratified |
| January 21, 1995 | Pasig | Cityhood of Pasig | RA 7829 | Ratified |
| February 4, 1995 | Makati | Cityhood of Makati | RA 7854 | Ratified |
| May 8, 1995 | Jordan and Nueva Valencia, Guimaras | Creation of Sibunag | RA 7896 | Ratified |
| May 8, 1995 | Jordan and Buenavista, Guimaras | Creation of San Lorenzo | RA 7897 | Ratified |
| May 8, 1995 | Muntinlupa | Cityhood of Muntinlupa | RA 7926 | Ratified |
| October 1, 1995 | Bongabon and Palayan, Nueva Ecija | Transfer of Barangay Popolan from Bongabon to Palayan | RA 8030 | Ratified |
| March 10, 1996 | Espiritu, Ilocos Norte | Renaming of Espiritu to "Banna" | SPR 120-95 | Ratified |
| August 10, 1996 | Sagay, Negros Occidental | Cityhood of Sagay | RA 8192 | Ratified |
| February 15, 1997 | Butig, Lumbatan, and Lumbayanagui, Lanao del Sur | Creation of Sultan Dumalondong | MMAA 36 | Ratified |
| March 26, 1997 | Las Piñas | Cityhood of Las Piñas | RA 8251 | Ratified |
| May 12, 1997 | Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija | Conversion of Cabanatuan to a highly urbanized city | PP 969. s. 1997 | Rejected |
| August 2, 1997 | Kabankalan, Negros Occidental | Cityhood of Kabankalan | RA 8297 | Ratified |
| March 7, 1998 | Babak, Samal and Kaputian, Davao del Norte | Merger of Babak, Samal and Kaputian as the city of Samal | RA 8471 | Ratified |
| March 7, 1998 | Tagum, Davao del Norte | Cityhood of Tagum | RA 8472 | Ratified |
| March 7, 1998 | Panabo and Carmen, Davao del Norte | Creation of Braulio E. Dujali | RA 8473 | Ratified |
| March 14, 1998 | Passi, Iloilo | Cityhood of Passi | RA 8469 | Ratified |
| March 20, 1998 | San Fernando, La Union | Cityhood of San Fernando | RA 8509 | Ratified |
| March 21, 1998 | Calapan, Oriental Mindoro | Cityhood of Calapan | RA 8475 | Ratified |
| March 21, 1998 | Talisay, Negros Occidental | Cityhood of Talisay | RA 8979 | Ratified |
| March 21, 1998 | Urdaneta, Pangasinan | Cityhood of Urdaneta | RA 8480 | Ratified |
| March 21, 1998 | Victorias, Negros Occidental | Cityhood of Victorias | RA 8488 | Ratified |
| March 22, 1998 | Malaybalay, Bukidnon | Cityhood of Malaybalay | RA 8490 | Ratified |
| March 22, 1998 | Kidapawan, North Cotabato | Cityhood of Kidapawan | RA 8500 | Ratified |
| March 22, 1998 | Parañaque | Cityhood of Parañaque | RA 8507 | Ratified |
| April 4, 1998 | Taguig | Cityhood of Taguig | RA 8487 | Ratified |
| April 4, 1998 | Antipolo, Rizal | Cityhood of Antipolo | RA 8508 | Ratified |
| April 18, 1998 | Tarlac, Tarlac | Cityhood of Tarlac | RA 8593 | Ratified |
| October 31, 1998 | Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao | Creation of Mamasapano | MMAA 54 | Ratified |
| December 30, 1998 | Valenzuela | Cityhood of Valenzuela | RA 8526 | Ratified |
| March 14, 1999 | Ilagan, Isabela | Cityhood of Ilagan | RA 8474 | Rejected |
| June 26, 1999 | Talayan, Maguindanao | Creation of Talitay | MMAA 52 | Ratified |
| October 23, 1999 | Quezon City | Creation of Novaliches City | RA 8535 | Rejected |
| December 18, 1999 | Malolos, Bulacan | Cityhood of Malolos | RA 8754 | Ratified |
| December 18, 1999 | Tuguegarao, Cagayan | Cityhood of Tuguegarao | RA 8755 | Ratified |
| March 18, 2000 | Pagalungan, Maguindanao | Creation of Pagagawan | MMAA 95 | Ratified |
| August 10, 2000 | Maasin, Southern Leyte | Cityhood of Maasin | RA 8796 | Ratified |
| September 8, 2000 | Digos, Davao del Sur | Cityhood of Digos | RA 8798 | Ratified |
| September 10, 2000 | San Jose del Monte, Bulacan | Cityhood of San Jose del Monte | RA 8797 | Ratified |
| September 18, 2000 | Bislig, Surigao del Sur | Cityhood of Bislig | RA 8804 | Ratified |
| September 18, 2000 | Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat | Cityhood of Tacurong | RA 8805 | Ratified |
| September 30, 2000 | Masbate, Masbate | Cityhood of Masbate | RA 8807 | Ratified |
| October 8, 2000 | Koronadal, South Cotabato | Cityhood of Koronadal | RA 8803 | Ratified |
| December 9, 2000 | Muñoz, Nueva Ecija | Cityhood of Muñoz | RA 8977 | Ratified |
| December 16, 2000 | Bacon and Sorsogon, Sorsogon | Merger of Bacon and Sorsogon as the city of Sorsogon | RA 8806 | Ratified |
| December 23, 2000 | Bayawan, Negros Oriental | Cityhood of Bayawan | RA 8963 | Ratified |
| December 30, 2000 | Talisay, Cebu | Cityhood of Talisay | RA 8979 | Ratified |
| December 30, 2000 | Balanga, Bataan | Cityhood of Balanga | RA 8984 | Ratified |
| December 30, 2000 | Valencia, Bukidnon | Cityhood of Valencia | RA 8985 | Ratified |
| January 22, 2001 | Vigan, Ilocos Sur | Cityhood of Vigan | RA 8988 | Ratified |
| February 3, 2001 | San Fernando, Pampanga | Cityhood of San Fernando | RA 8990 | Ratified |
| March 10, 2001 | Tanauan, Batangas | Cityhood of Tanauan | RA 9005 | Ratified |
| March 24, 2001 | Ligao, Albay | Cityhood of Ligao | RA 9008 | Ratified |
| March 24, 2001 | Tabaco, Albay | Cityhood of Tabaco | RA 9020 | Ratified |
| March 28, 2001 | Candon, Ilocos Sur | Cityhood of Candon | RA 9018 | Ratified |
| March 28, 2001 | Alaminos, Pangasinan | Cityhood of Alaminos | RA 9025 | Ratified |
| March 30, 2001 | Cauayan, Isabela | Cityhood of Cauayan | RA 9017 | Ratified |
| March 30, 2001 | Meycauayan, Bulacan | Cityhood of Meycauayan | RA 9021 | Rejected |
| March 31, 2001 | Escalante, Negros Occidental | Cityhood of Escalante | RA 9014 | Ratified |
| March 31, 2001 | Panabo, Davao del Norte | Cityhood of Panabo | RA 9015 | Ratified |
| March 31, 2001 | Tanjay, Negros Oriental | Cityhood of Tanjay | RA 9026 | Ratified |
| March 31, 2001 | Sipalay, Negros Occidental | Cityhood of Sipalay | RA 9027 | Ratified |
| March 31, 2001 | Himamaylan, Negros Occidental | Cityhood of Himamaylan | RA 9028 | Ratified |
| July 15, 2002 | Busuanga and Culion, Palawan | Transfer of Barangays Burabod and Halsey from Busuanga to Culion | RA 9032 | Ratified |
| July 15, 2002 | Culion, Palawan | Creation of Barangay De Carabao | RA 9032 | Ratified |
| June 6, 2004 | Asuncion and Kapalong, Davao del Norte | Creation of San Isidro | RA 9265 | Ratified |
| July 10, 2004 | Santa Rosa, Laguna | Cityhood of Santa Rosa | RA 9264 | Ratified |
| September 16, 2004 | Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao | Creation of Rajah Buayan | MMAA 126 | Ratified |
| November 27, 2004 | Bayang and Lumbatan, Lanao del Sur | Creation of Lumbaca-Unayan | MMAA 106 | Ratified |
| February 18, 2006 | Tarlac City, Tarlac | Conversion of Tarlac City to a highly urbanized city | PP 940, s. 2005 | Rejected |
| May 22, 2006 | Tipo-Tipo, Basilan | Creation of Ungkaya Pukan | MMAA 190 | Ratified |
| May 22, 2006 | Tipo-Tipo, Basilan | Creation of Al-Barka | MMAA 191 | Ratified |
| May 22, 2006 | Tuburan, Basilan | Creation of Hadji Mohammad Ajul | MMAA 192 | Ratified |
| May 22, 2006 | Tuburan, Basilan | Creation of Akbar | MMAA 193 | Ratified |
| September 16, 2006 | Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi | Creation of Sibutu | MMAA 197 | Ratified |
| September 16, 2006 | Upi, Maguindanao | Creation of Datu Blah T. Sinsuat | MMAA 198 | Ratified |
| December 10, 2006 | Meycauayan, Bulacan | Cityhood of Meycauayan | RA 9356 | Ratified |
| December 30, 2006 | Buluan, Maguindanao | Creation of Pandag | MMAA 203 | Ratified |
| December 30, 2006 | Kabuntalan, Shariff Kabunsuan | Creation of Northern Kabuntalan | MMAA 206 | Ratified |
| December 30, 2006 | Talayan and Talitay, Maguindanao | Creation of Datu Anggal Midtimbang | MMAA 207 | Ratified |
| June 16, 2007 | San Juan | Cityhood of San Juan | RA 9388 | Ratified |
| June 24, 2007 | Navotas | Cityhood of Navotas | RA 9387 | Ratified |
| July 9, 2007 | Puerto Princesa, Palawan | Conversion of Puerto Princesa to a highly urbanized city | PP 1264, s. 2007 | Ratified |
| July 21, 2007 | Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu | Conversion of Lapu-Lapu City to a highly urbanized city | PP 1222, s. 2007 | Ratified |
| August 25, 2007 | Luuk, Sulu | Creation of Omar | MMAA 194 | Ratified |
| August 25, 2007 | Lantawan, Basilan | Creation of Hadji Muhtamad | MMAA 200 | Ratified |
| December 18, 2008 | Tacloban, Leyte | Conversion of Tacloban to a highly urbanized city | PP 1638, s. 2008 | Ratified |
| July 30, 2009 | Shariff Aguak and Datu Unsay, Maguindanao | Creation of Datu Hoffer Ampatuan | MMAA 220 | Ratified |
| July 30, 2009 | Datu Saudi Ampatuan and Datu Piang, Maguindanao | Creation of Datu Salibo | MMAA 222 | Ratified |
| July 30, 2009 | Shariff Aguak, Mamasapano, Datu Unsay, Datu Saudi Ampatuan and Datu Piang, Maguindanao | Creation of Shariff Saydona Mustapha | MMAA 225 | Ratified |
| November 25, 2009 | Dasmariñas, Cavite | Cityhood of Dasmariñas | RA 9723 | Ratified |
| June 23, 2012 | Bacoor, Cavite | Cityhood of Bacoor | RA 10160 | Ratified |
| June 30, 2013 | Imus, Cavite | Cityhood of Imus | RA 10161 | Ratified |
| July 21, 2012 | Mabalacat, Pampanga | Cityhood of Mabalacat | RA 10164 | Ratified |
| August 4, 2012 | Cabuyao, Laguna | Cityhood of Cabuyao | RA 10163 | Ratified |
| August 11, 2012 | Ilagan, Isabela | Cityhood of Ilagan | RA 10169 | Ratified |
| December 28, 2013 | San Pedro, Laguna | Cityhood of San Pedro | RA 10420 | Ratified |
| December 12, 2015 | General Trias, Cavite | Cityhood of General Trias | RA 10675 | Ratified |
| March 24, 2018 | Dumalneg, Ilocos Norte | Creation of three barangays | RA 10955 | Ratified |
| April 7, 2018 | Bumbaran, Lanao del Sur | Renaming of Bumbaran to "Amai Manabilang" | MMAA 316 | Ratified |
| September 7, 2019 | Santo Tomas, Batangas | Cityhood of Santo Tomas | RA 11086 | Ratified |
| September 3, 2022 | Calaca, Batangas | Cityhood of Calaca | RA 11544 | Ratified |
| December 17, 2022 | Baliwag, Bulacan | Cityhood of Baliwag | RA 11929 | Ratified |
| July 8, 2023 | Carmona, Cavite | Cityhood of Carmona | RA 11938 | Ratified |
| April 13, 2024 | Aleosan. Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pigcawayan, Pikit, Cotabato | Creation of Kadayangan, Kapalawan, Ligawasan, Malidegao, Nabalawag, Old Kaabakan, Pahamuddin, Tugunan | BA 41–48 | Ratified |
| June 29, 2024 | Las Piñas | Redrawing of barangay boundaries | CO 941-23 s. 2023 | Ratified |
* ↑ The Supreme Court ruled that the votes for cityhood must be more than a majority of registered voters, not just of those who voted.
* ↑ Originally rejected, but a recount saw more votes for cityhood.

### Barangay-level plebiscites

There have also been plebiscites in barangays for renaming them or creating new ones, either from certain sitios or by dividing and merging existing barangays. There have been hundreds of such plebiscites since the 1980s.

## People's Initiative

People's Initiative refers to either a mode for constitutional amendment provided by the 1987 Philippine Constitution or to the act of pushing an initiative (national or local) allowed by the Initiative and Referendum Act of 1987.
While there had been no national people's initiative, there had been several attempts at one. In 2014, the People's Initiative against pork barrel had 10,000 signatures submitted to the Commission on Elections, but a referendum did not push through. In 2020, it was theorized that it could be used to grant ABS-CBN a new franchise, but it was seen by lawyer Emil Marañon "as legally problematic and practically impossible to hold."
Local initiatives are possible. The first initiative under the Initiative and Referendum Act was in Barangay Miragrosa, Quezon City, to stop the continued influx of informal settlers and the sale of illegal drugs in 2011. The initiative passed, with 465 in favor and 384 against, out of 3,665 registered voters eligible to participate.

### Local initiatives

| Date | Location | Proposition | Result |
| May 14, 2011 | Barangay Milagrosa, Quezon City | Banning illegal settlers, mendicants, abusive barangay officials, and drug trafficking | Ratified |