Resolution No. 7801

WHEREAS the Commission on Elections by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code and other election laws determines and allocates the number of seats for elective public officials in connection with the May 14, 2007 synchronized National and Local Elections;

WHEREAS the number of Members of the House of Representatives to be elected is based on the number of legislative districts created by law;

WHEREAS, Republic Act 9357, reapportioned the province of Sultan Kudarat into two (2) legislative districts to commence on May 14, 2007 National and Local Elections;

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 9360 divided the province of Zamboanga Sibugay into two (2) legislative districts;

WHEREAS, Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 201, created the new province of Shariff Kabunsuan with lone legislative district, out of the first district of the province of Maguindanao, thereby converting Maguindanao also as lone legislative district, which creation was ratified in a Plebiscite conducted on October 28, 2006;

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 9355, created the new province of Dinagat with lone legislative district, out of the first district of the province of Surigao del Norte, thereby converting Surigao del Norte also as lone legislative district, which creation was ratified in a Plebiscite conducted on December 2, 2006;

WHEREAS, Republic Act 8487, converted the municipality of Taguig into a highly urbanized city and was ratified in a plebiscite conducted on December 8, 2004 (EPC No. 98-102) and created a new legislative district corresponding to the second councilor district of the highly urbanized city of Taguig, which shall be elected beginning in the May 14, 2007 elections. The first councilor district of Taguig shall remain with the legislative District of Pateros-Taguig;

WHEREAS, Sec. 2 of Republic Act No. 9269 constituted Zamboanga City into two (2) legislative districts;

WHEREAS, the number of elective members for Sangguniang Panlalawiganis provided in Section 2 of Republic Act 6637, which amended Section 4 of Republic Act 6636 to read as follows:

Sec. 4. Provinces and other Municipalities. First and Second class provinces shall each have ten (10) elective members for their respective Sangguniang Panlalawigan; third and fourth- class provinces, eight (8); and fifth and sixth class provinces, six (6), to be elected at large by the qualified voters therein.

WHEREAS, Sec. 3 (a) and (b) of Republic Act No. 7166 provides that:

Sec. 3. Election of Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Sangguniang Panlungsod and Sangguniang Bayan - The elective members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Sangguniang Panlungsod and Sangguniang Bayan shall be elected as follows:

(a) For provinces with two (2) or more legislative districts, the elective members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan shall be elected by legislative districts. For this purpose, the number of seats shall be apportioned equitably: Provided, That, if equal division is not possible, the remaining member or members shall be elected in the district or districts with the greater number of population or, if they be the same, with the greater number of voters. Provided, further, That, if a legislative district include a city that does not vote in the election of provincial officials,the Commission on Elections, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, shall allocate the number of seats among the districts in proportion to the population of the constituencies voting for the Sannguniang Panlalawigan.

(b) For provinces with only one (1) legislative district, the Commission shall divide them into two (2) districts for purposes of electing the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, as nearly as practicable according to the number of inhabitants, each district comprising a compact, contiguous and adjacent territory, and the number of seats of elective members of their respective sanggunian shall be equitably apportioned between the districts in accordance with the immediately preceding paragraph;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Department Order No. 20-05 of the Bureau of Government Finance (DOF) dated July 29, 2005, the following provinces have been reclassified as follows:

WHEREAS, Sec.3 (c) of Republic Act. No. 7166, states that:

(c) The number and election of elective members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and Sangguniang Bayan in the Metro Manila Area, City of Cebu, City of Davao and any other city with two (2) or more legislative districts shall continue to be governed by the provisions of Section 2 and 3 of Republic Act No.6636: Provided, That, the municipalities of Malabon, Navotas, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas and Taguig shall have twelve (12) councilors, and Pateros, ten (10): Provided, further, That, the Commission shall divide each of the municipalities in Metro Manila into two (2) districts by barangay for purposes of representation in the Sangguniang Bayan as nearly as practicable according to the number of inhabitants, each district comprising a compact, contiguous and adjacent territory; and

WHEREAS, Secs. 2 and 3 of Republic Act. No. 6636, mandates that:

Sec. 2. Metro Manila Area. For purposes of the Local Elections on January 18, 1988, the City of Manila, Quezon City and the City of Caloocan shall have six (6) councilors for each of their representative districts who shall be residents thereof to be elected by the qualified voters therein. The City of Pasay and the Municipalities of Makati, Parañaque, Pasig, Marikina, and Valenzuela, each of which comprises a representative district, shall have twelve (12) councilors each to be elected at large by the qualified voters of the said city or municipality. All the other municipalities within the Metropolitan Manila area shall have ten (10) councilors each, with the exception of the Municipality of Pateros which shall have eight (8) councilors to be elected at large by their respective qualified voters.

Sec. 3. Other Cities. The provision of any law to the contrary notwithstanding, the City of Cebu, City of Davao, and any other city with more than one representative district shall have eight (8) councilors for each district who shall be residents thereof to be elected by the qualified voters therein, provided that the Cities of Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Bacolod, Iloilo and other cities comprising a representative district shall have twelve (12) councilors each and all other cities shall have ten (10) councilors each to be elected at large by the qualified voters of the said cities: Provided, That in no case shall the present number of councilors according to their charters be reduced.

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 9269 also provided that Zamboanga City shall have eight (8) elective members of Sangguniang Panlungsodfor each legislative district to be elected by the qualified voters of each district;

WHEREAS, after the May 10, 2004 National and Local elections, several municipalities have been created and/or converted into cities, thus:

a) Newly Created Municipalities, which shall belong to the same legislative/provincial district of their mother municipality from which they were taken:

b) Converted into Cities

NOW THEREFORE, the Commission RESOLVED as it hereby RESOLVES to fix the number and allocation of seats as shown in ANNEXES hereof, which shall form as an integral part of this resolution to wit:

1. ANNEX A Members, House of Representatives
2. ANNEX B Members, Sangguniang Panglalawigan
3. ANNEX C Members, Sangguniang Panglungsod
4. ANNEX D - Members, Sangguniang Bayan

Let the Education and Information Department cause the publication of this Resolution in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines, and to furnish copies thereof to all Regional Election Directors, Provincial Election Supervisors and Election Officers.

SO ORDERED.