# Leyte's 1st congressional district

Leyte's 1st congressional district is one of the five congressional districts of the Philippines in the province of Leyte. It has been represented in the House of Representatives of the Philippines since 1916 and earlier in the Philippine Assembly from 1907 to 1916. The district consists of the provincial capital, Tacloban, and adjacent municipalities of Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tanauan and Tolosa since 1987. It is currently represented in the 19th Congress by Martin Romualdez of the Lakas–CMD (Lakas), who has served as the House Speaker since July 2022.
Until 1931, it consisted of the sub-province of Biliran and the northwestern municipalities of Albuera, Baybay, Calubian, Leyte, Merida, Ormoc, Palompon, San Isidro, and Villaba. Following the creation of the fifth district, Albuera, Baybay, and Ormoc were redistricted to the second district, while other municipalities were retained; Isabel, Matag-ob, and Tabango were later established as new municipalities after the district was re-created in 1945. Following the creation of Southern Leyte in 1959, these areas under this district were reapportioned to the third district, and the district was redefined to consist of the city of Tacloban and the eastern municipalities of Abuyog, Babatngon, Dulag, Javier, MacArthur, Mahaplag, Mayorga, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tanauan, and Tolosa, all previously from the fourth district, from 1961 until its second dissolution in 1972.
Leyte's 1st district has seen two House Speakers, the most by any district: Daniel Z. Romualdez and his nephew, Martin Romualdez.

## Representation history

| # | Image | Image | Member | Term of office | Term of office | Legislature | Party | Electoral history | Constituent LGUs |
| # | Image | Image | Member | Start | End | Legislature | Party | Electoral history | Constituent LGUs |
| Leyte's 1st district for the Philippine Assembly ||||||||||
| District created January 9, 1907. ||||||||||
| 1 | | | Quiremón Alkuino | October 16, 1907 | October 16, 1909 | 1st | Nacionalista | Elected in 1907. | 1907–1909 Baybay, Caibiran, Kawayan, Leyte, Merida, Naval, Ormoc, Palompon, San Isidro |
| 2 | | | Estanislao Granados | October 16, 1909 | October 16, 1916 | 2nd | Nacionalista | Elected in 1909. | 1909–1916 Baybay, Biliran, Caibiran, Kawayan, Leyte, Merida, Naval, Ormoc, Palompon, San Isidro, Villaba |
| 2 | | | Estanislao Granados | October 16, 1909 | October 16, 1916 | 3rd | Nacionalista | Re-elected in 1912. | 1909–1916 Baybay, Biliran, Caibiran, Kawayan, Leyte, Merida, Naval, Ormoc, Palompon, San Isidro, Villaba |
| Leyte's 1st district for the House of Representatives of the Philippine Islands ||||||||||
| 3 | | | Manuel B. Veloso | October 16, 1916 | June 3, 1919 | 4th | Nacionalista | Elected in 1916. | 1916–1919 Baybay, Biliran, Caibiran, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi, Merida, Naval, Ormoc, Palompon, San Isidro, Villaba |
| 4 | | | Francisco Delgado Enage | June 3, 1919 | June 6, 1922 | 5th | Nacionalista | Elected in 1919. | 1919–1931 Albuera, Baybay, Biliran, Caibiran, Calubian, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi, Merida, Naval, Ormoc, Palompon, San Isidro, Villaba |
| 5 | | | Carlos S. Tan | June 6, 1922 | June 2, 1925 | 6th | Nacionalista Colectivista | Elected in 1922. | 1919–1931 Albuera, Baybay, Biliran, Caibiran, Calubian, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi, Merida, Naval, Ormoc, Palompon, San Isidro, Villaba |
| 6 | | | Juan Veloso | June 2, 1925 | June 5, 1928 | 7th | Nacionalista Consolidado | Elected in 1925. | 1919–1931 Albuera, Baybay, Biliran, Caibiran, Calubian, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi, Merida, Naval, Ormoc, Palompon, San Isidro, Villaba |
| 7 | | | Bernardo Torres | June 5, 1928 | June 2, 1931 | 8th | Nacionalista Consolidado | Elected in 1928. | 1919–1931 Albuera, Baybay, Biliran, Caibiran, Calubian, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi, Merida, Naval, Ormoc, Palompon, San Isidro, Villaba |
| (5) | | | Carlos S. Tan | June 2, 1931 | September 16, 1935 | 9th | Nacionalista Consolidado | Elected in 1931. | 1931–1935 Biliran, Caibiran, Calubian, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi, Merida, Naval, Palompon, San Isidro, Villaba |
| (5) | | | Carlos S. Tan | June 2, 1931 | September 16, 1935 | 10th | Nacionalista Democrático | Re-elected in 1934. | 1931–1935 Biliran, Caibiran, Calubian, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi, Merida, Naval, Palompon, San Isidro, Villaba |
| # | Image | Image | Member | Term of office | Term of office | National Assembly | Party | Electoral history | Constituent LGUs |
| # | Image | Image | Member | Start | End | National Assembly | Party | Electoral history | Constituent LGUs |
| Leyte's 1st district for the National Assembly (Commonwealth of the Philippines) ||||||||||
| 8 | | | Jose Maria Veloso | September 16, 1935 | December 30, 1938 | 1st | Nacionalista Democrático | Elected in 1935. | 1935–1941 Biliran, Caibiran, Calubian, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi, Merida, Naval, Palompon, San Isidro, Villaba |
| (5) | | | Carlos S. Tan | December 30, 1938 | December 30, 1941 | 2nd | Nacionalista | Elected in 1938. | 1935–1941 Biliran, Caibiran, Calubian, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi, Merida, Naval, Palompon, San Isidro, Villaba |
| District dissolved into the two-seat Leyte's at-large district for the National Assembly (Second Philippine Republic). ||||||||||
| # | Image | Image | Member | Term of office | Term of office | Common wealth Congress | Party | Electoral history | Constituent LGUs |
| # | Image | Image | Member | Start | End | Common wealth Congress | Party | Electoral history | Constituent LGUs |
| Leyte's 1st district for the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of the Philippines ||||||||||
| District re-created May 24, 1945. ||||||||||
| 9 | | | Mateo Canonoy | June 11, 1945 | May 25, 1946 | 1st | Nacionalista | Elected in 1941. | 1945–1946 Biliran, Caibiran, Calubian, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi, Merida, Naval, Palompon, San Isidro, Villaba |
| # | Image | Image | Member | Term of office | Term of office | Congress | Party | Electoral history | Constituent LGUs |
| # | Image | Image | Member | Start | End | Congress | Party | Electoral history | Constituent LGUs |
| Leyte's 1st district for the House of Representatives of the Philippines ||||||||||
| (5) | | | Carlos S. Tan | May 25, 1946 | November 11, 1947 | 1st | Liberal | Elected in 1946. Resigned on election as senator. | 1946–1949 Biliran, Caibiran, Calubian, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi, Merida, Naval, Palompon, San Isidro, Villaba |
| 10 | | | José R. Martínez | March 23, 1948 | December 30, 1949 | 1st | Liberal | Elected in 1948 to finish Tan's term. | 1946–1949 Biliran, Caibiran, Calubian, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi, Merida, Naval, Palompon, San Isidro, Villaba |
| (9) | | | Mateo Canonoy | December 30, 1949 | December 30, 1953 | 2nd | Nacionalista | Elected in 1949. | 1949–1953 Almeria, Biliran, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Calubian, Isabel, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi, Merida, Naval, Palompon, San Isidro, Tabango, Villaba |
| (5) | | | Carlos S. Tan | December 30, 1953 | December 30, 1957 | 3rd | Liberal | Elected in 1953. | 1953–1957 Almeria, Biliran, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Calubian, Culaba, Isabel, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi, Merida, Naval, Palompon, San Isidro, Tabango, Villaba |
| 11 | | | Marcelino R. Veloso | December 30, 1957 | December 30, 1961 | 4th | Nacionalista | Elected in 1957. Redistricted to the 3rd district. | 1957–1961 Almeria, Biliran, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Calubian, Culaba, Isabel, Kawayan, Leyte, Maripipi, Matag-ob, Merida, Naval, Palompon, San Isidro, Tabango, Villaba |
| 12 | | | Daniel Z. Romualdez | December 30, 1961 | March 22, 1965 | 5th | Nacionalista | Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1961. Died in office. | 1961–1965 Abuyog, Babatngon, Bugho, Dulag, MacArthur, Mahaplag, Mayorga, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa |
| 13 | | | Artemio E. Mate | December 30, 1965 | September 23, 1972 | 6th | Nacionalista | Elected in 1965. | 1965–1972 Abuyog, Babatngon, Dulag, Javier, MacArthur, Mahaplag, Mayorga, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa |
| 13 | | | Artemio E. Mate | December 30, 1965 | September 23, 1972 | 7th | Nacionalista | Re-elected in 1969. Removed from office after imposition of martial law. | 1965–1972 Abuyog, Babatngon, Dulag, Javier, MacArthur, Mahaplag, Mayorga, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa |
| District dissolved into the ten-seat Region VIII's at-large district for the Interim Batasang Pambansa, followed by the five-seat Leyte's at-large district for the Regular Batasang Pambansa. ||||||||||
| District re-created February 2, 1987. ||||||||||
| 14 | | | Cirilo Roy G. Montejo | June 30, 1987 | June 30, 1995 | 8th | UNIDO | Elected in 1987. | 1987–present Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa |
| 14 | | | Cirilo Roy G. Montejo | June 30, 1987 | June 30, 1995 | 9th | Lakas | Re-elected in 1992. | 1987–present Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa |
| 15 | | | Imelda Marcos | June 30, 1995 | June 30, 1998 | 10th | KBL | Elected in 1995. | 1987–present Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa |
| 16 | | | Alfred S. Romualdez | June 30, 1998 | June 30, 2001 | 11th | LAMMP | Elected in 1998. | 1987–present Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa |
| 17 | | | Ted Failon | June 30, 2001 | June 30, 2004 | 12th | Independent | Elected in 2001. | 1987–present Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa |
| 18 | | | Remedios L. Petilla | June 30, 2004 | June 30, 2007 | 13th | Lakas | Elected in 2004. | 1987–present Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa |
| 19 | | | Martin Romualdez | June 30, 2007 | June 30, 2016 | 14th | Lakas | Elected in 2007. | 1987–present Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa |
| 19 | | | Martin Romualdez | June 30, 2007 | June 30, 2016 | 15th | Lakas | Re-elected in 2010. | 1987–present Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa |
| 19 | | | Martin Romualdez | June 30, 2007 | June 30, 2016 | 16th | Lakas | Re-elected in 2013. | 1987–present Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa |
| 20 | | | Yedda Marie Romualdez | June 30, 2016 | June 30, 2019 | 17th | Lakas | Elected in 2016. | 1987–present Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa |
| (19) | | | Martin Romualdez | June 30, 2019 | Incumbent | 18th | Lakas | Elected in 2019. | 1987–present Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa |
| (19) | | | Martin Romualdez | June 30, 2019 | Incumbent | 19th | Lakas | Re-elected in 2022. | 1987–present Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa |

## Election results
### 2022

2022 Philippine House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Lakas | Martin Romualdez | 180,806 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 180,806 | 100.00% |
| | Lakas hold | Lakas hold | Lakas hold | Lakas hold |

### 2019

2019 Philippine House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Lakas | Martin Romualdez | 160,401 | 94.26% |
| | PFP | Lino Dumas | 9,764 | 5.74% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 170,165 | 100.00% |
| | Lakas hold | Lakas hold | Lakas hold | Lakas hold |

### 2016

2016 Philippine House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Lakas | Yedda Marie Romualdez | 147,477 | 73.66% |
| | Independent | Fiel Clemencio | 51,550 | 25.75% |
| | Independent | Ka-Poly Jacla | 1,191 | 0.59% |
| Valid ballots | Valid ballots | Valid ballots | 200,218 | 81.29% |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 95,927 | 47.91% |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 46,082 | 18.71% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 246,300 | 100.00% |
| | Lakas hold | Lakas hold | Lakas hold | Lakas hold |

### 2013

2013 Philippine House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Lakas | Martin Romualdez | 122,022 | 56.05% |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 95,672 | 43.95% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 217,694 | 100.00% |
| | Lakas hold | Lakas hold | Lakas hold | Lakas hold |

### 2010

2010 Philippine House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Lakas–Kampi | Martin Romualdez | 99,807 | 60.05 |
| | Independent | Fiel Clemencio | 66,403 | 39.95 |
| Valid ballots | Valid ballots | Valid ballots | 166,210 | 86.01 |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 27,031 | 13.99 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 193,241 | 100.00 |
| | Lakas–Kampi hold | Lakas–Kampi hold | Lakas–Kampi hold | Lakas–Kampi hold |