SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS __)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Ji’
House Bill No. 7643

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 5 of Article VI of the Constitution states that:

(1) The House of Representatives shall be composed of
not more than two hundred and fifty members, unless otherwise
fixed by law, who shall be elected from legislative districts
apportioned among the provinces, cities, and the Metropolitan
Manila area in accordance with the number of their respective
inhabitants, and on the basis of a uniform and progressive ra
and those who, as provided by law, shall be elected through a
party-list system of registered national, regional, and sectoral
parties or organizations.

(3) Each legislative district shall comprise, as far as
practicable, contiguous, compact, and adjacent territory. Each
city with a population of at least two hundred fifty thousand, or
each province, shalll have at least one representative.

(4) Within three years following the retum of every census,
the Congress shall make a reapportionment of legislative districts
based on the standards provided in this section.

However, Congress does not make reapportionment of legislative districts within
three years of the return of every census as mandated by the Constitution. Instead, new
legislative districts are created through laws which are usually influenced by political
motivations.

Based on the result of 2010 Census, there should now be a reapportionment of the
legislative districts of the country.

In the reapportionment of the legislative districts, except for each city with a
population of at 250,000 or each province, new legislative districts shall have a minimum
population of Four Hundred Thousand people. In the House of Representatives of the United
States, there is one congressman for 673,600 people.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

ip

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House BillNo. 7643
AN ACT

PROVIDING FOR A GENERAL REAPPORTIONMENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS
OF THE PHILIPPINES PURSUANT TO THE 2007 CENSUS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

Section 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is the declared policy of the State that Congress shall
reapportion the legislative districts of the country within three years of the retum of every
census.

Section 2. Reapportionment of Legislative Districts. - Legislative districts are hereby
reapportioned with a minimum population of at least four hundred thousand per district
based on the 2013 Census provided that no existing district shall be deprived of its
representation. Each city with a population of at least 250,000 or each province shall have at
least one representative.

Section 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations or parts
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,