The 17th Congress of the Philippines ( fil, Ikalabimpitong Kongreso ng Pilipinas), composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives, met from July 25, 2016, until June 4, 2019, during the first three years of

Rodrigo Duterte's presidency Rodrigo Duterte became the 16th President of the Philippines on June 30, 2016, succeeding Benigno Aquino III. He was the first president from Mindanao, the first president to have worked in all three branches of government, and the oldest to ...

. The convening of the 17th

Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...

followed the 2016 general elections, which replaced half of the Senate membership and the entire membership of the House of Representatives.

Leadership

Senate

* Senate President: ** Koko Pimentel (

PDP–Laban Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (), abbreviated as PDP–Laban, is a democratic socialist political party in the Philippines founded in 1982. It was part of the country's ruling party alliance from 1986 to 1992 under the administrat ...

), July 25, 2016 – May 21, 2018 ** Tito Sotto ( NPC), May 21, 2018 – June 4, 2019 * Senate President ''pro tempore'': ** Franklin Drilon ( Liberal), July 25, 2016 – February 27, 2017 ** Ralph Recto ( Nacionalista), February 27, 2017 – June 4, 2019 * Majority Floor Leader: ** Tito Sotto ( NPC), July 25, 2016 – May 21, 2018 ** Juan Miguel Zubiri (

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independe ...

), May 21, 2018 – June 4, 2019 * Minority Floor Leader: ** Ralph Recto ( Liberal), July 25, 2016 – February 27, 2017 ** Franklin Drilon ( Liberal), February 28, 2017 – June 4, 2019

House of Representatives

Speaker Speaker may refer to: Society and politics * Speaker (politics), the presiding officer in a legislative assembly * Public speaker, one who gives a speech or lecture * A person producing speech: the producer of a given utterance, especially: ** In ...

: ** Pantaleon Alvarez ( Davao del Norte–1st,

), July 25, 2016 – July 23, 2018 **

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal Arroyo (, born April 5, 1947), often referred to by her initials GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician serving as one of the House Deputy Speakers since 2022, and previously from 2016 to 2017. She previously ...

( Pampanga–2nd,

), July 23, 2018 – June 4, 2019 * Deputy Speakers: ** Eric Singson ( Ilocos Sur–2nd,

), July 25, 2016 – August 29, 2018 ** Mercedes Alvarez ( Negros Occidental–6th, NPC), July 25, 2016 – June 4, 2019 **

Fredenil Castro Fredenil Hernaez Castro (born April 27, 1951) is a Filipino politician serving as the Governor of Capiz since 2022. He was the Representative of Capiz's 2nd district from 2001 to 2010 and from 2013 to 2022. He had served as a House Deputy Spe ...

( Capiz–2nd, NUP), July 25, 2016 – January 21, 2019 ** Raneo Abu ( Batangas–2nd, Nacionalista), July 25, 2016 – June 4, 2019 **

Miro Quimbo Romero Federico Saenz Quimbo (born December 12, 1969), better known as Miro Quimbo, is a Filipino politician who served as the representative for Marikina's 2nd congressional district from 2010 to 2019. Education Quimbo spent the first two yea ...

( Marikina–2nd, Liberal), July 25, 2016 – July 25, 2018 **

( Pampanga–2nd,

Lakas–CMD Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats, abbreviated as Lakas–CMD and also known simply as Lakas, is a political party in the Philippines. Lakas–CMD is considered to sit on the centre-right of the political spectrum, and is influenced by Christi ...

), August 15, 2016 – March 15, 2017 **

Pia Cayetano Pilar Juliana Schramm Cayetano KGCR (born March 22, 1966), known as Pia Cayetano, is a Filipina politician and lawyer serving as a Senator since 2019, a position she previously held from 2004 to 2016. She was also the Representative of Tagui ...

( Taguig–2nd, Nacionalista), August 15, 2016 – June 4, 2019 ** Gwendolyn Garcia ( Cebu–3rd,

), August 15, 2016 – August 15, 2018 ** Mylene Garcia-Albano ( Davao City–2nd,

), August 15, 2016 – June 4, 2019 ** Sharon Garin (AAMBIS-OWA), August 15, 2016 – June 4, 2019 ** Bai Sandra A. Sema ( Maguindanao and Cotabato City-1st,

), August 15, 2016 – June 4, 2019 ** Ferdinand L. Hernandez ( South Cotabato-2nd, NPC), August 16, 2016 – June 4, 2019 ** Frederick Abueg ( Palawan-2nd, Liberal), August 16, 2016 – June 4, 2019 ** Rolando Andaya Jr. ( Camarines Sur-1st,

), August 16, 2016 – July 30, 2018 ** Linabelle Villarica ( Bulacan-4th, Liberal), August 9, 2017 – June 4, 2019 ** Prospero Pichay Jr. ( Surigao del Sur–1st,

), August 15, 2018 – June 4, 2019 ** Arthur C. Yap ( Bohol–3rd,

), August 15, 2018 – June 4, 2019 **

Rosemarie Arenas Rose Marie "Baby" Bosch Jimenez Arenas (born December 10, 1940) is a Manila socialite who featured prominently in the political scene of the Philippines in the 1990s. She was relatively unknown until 1993, when the ''Philippine Daily Inquirer' ...

( Pangasinan–3rd,

), August 29, 2018 – present **

Evelina Escudero Evelina Buencamino Guevara-Escudero is a Filipino educator and politician who was a member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines representing Sorsogon's 1st congressional district from 2013 to 2022. She won the position following th ...

( Sorsogon-1st, NPC), August 29, 2018 – June 4, 2019 **

Randolph Ting Randolph "Randy" S. Ting (born in Tuguegarao) is a Filipino Politician. Ting is son of Former Tuguegarao City Mayor Delfin Ting. In 2001, he elected as the Mayor of Tuguegarao. During his term, the Tuguegarao has been a Competitive, Livable, Safe ...

( Cagayan–3rd, NUP), January 21, 2019 – June 4, 2019 *

Majority Leader In U.S. politics (as well as in some other countries utilizing the presidential system), the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.

: ** Rodolfo Fariñas ( Ilocos Norte–1st,

), July 25, 2016 – July 23, 2018 **

( Capiz–2nd, NUP), ''interim'', July 23, 2018 – July 30, 2018, January 21, 2019 – June 4, 2019 ** Rolando Andaya Jr. ( Camarines Sur-1st,

), July 30, 2018 – January 21, 2019 * Minority Leader: **

Danilo Suarez Danilo "Danny" Etorma Suarez (born December 20, 1942) is a Filipino politician and former Governor of Quezon. He served as Minority Floor Leader of the House of Representatives of the Philippines representing the 3rd District of Quezon. H ...

( Quezon–3rd,

), July 27, 2016 – June 4, 2019

Sessions

* First regular session: July 25, 2016 – May 31, 2017 * Second regular session: July 24, 2017 – May 30, 2018 * Third regular session: July 23, 2018 – May 27, 2019

Composition

Both chambers of Congress are divided into parties and blocs. While members are elected via parties, blocs are the basis for committee memberships. Only members of the majority and minority blocs are accorded committee memberships. This is how blocs are determined: * Majority bloc: All members who voted for the Senate President or Speaker during the Senate presidential or speakership election. * Minority bloc: All members who voted for the second-placed candidate during the Senate presidential or speakership election. * Independent minority bloc: All members who did not vote for the winning or second-best nominee during the Senate presidential or speakership election. * Independent bloc: All members who abstained from voting during the Senate presidential or speakership election. * Not a member of any bloc: All members who have not voted during the Senate presidential or speakership election. In the speakership election, several members abstained from voting. They, along with the members who voted for the losing candidate voted on who would be the minority leader.

Senate

House of Representatives

Membership

Senate

The Senate of the 17th Congress were represented by 2 senators from

Central Luzon Central Luzon ( pam, (Reyun ning) Kalibudtarang Luzon, pag, (Rehiyon na) Pegley na Luzon, tgl, (Rehiyon ng) Gitnang Luzon, ilo, (Rehion/Deppaar ti) Tengnga ti Luzon), designated as Region III, is an administrative region in the Philippines, ...

region, 12 senators from

Metro Manila Metropolitan Manila (often shortened as Metro Manila; fil, Kalakhang Maynila), officially the National Capital Region (NCR; fil, link=no, Pambansang Punong Rehiyon), is the capital region, seat of government and one of three List of metrop ...

region, 3 senators from Calabarzon region, 2 senators from

Bicol Region Bicol, known formally as the Bicol Region or colloquially as Bicolandia ( bcl, Rehiyon kan Bikol; Rinconada Bikol: ''Rehiyon ka Bikol''; Waray Sorsogon, Masbateño: ''Rehiyon san Bikol''; tl, Rehiyon ng Bikol), is an administrative region of ...

, 1 senator from Western Visayas region, 2 senators from Northern Mindanao region, and 1 senator from

Soccsksargen Soccsksargen (officially stylized in all caps; ), formerly known as Central Mindanao, is an administrative region of the Philippines, designated as Region XII. Located in south-central Mindanao, its name is an acronym that stands for the regi ...

region. 10 regions in the Philippines have no representation in the Senate of the 17th Congress, while Metro Manila is represented by 12, half of all the senators. Notes

House of Representatives

17th Congress of the Philippines party standing

District representatives

;Notes : Died on June 30, 2016, before taking office. : Resigned after being appointed as Secretary of Public Works and Highways on August 1, 2016. : Died on November 11, 2016. : Died on June 3, 2017. : Died on October 8, 2017. : Left office on November 5, 2018, after appointment as Cabinet Secretary.

Party-list representatives

: Resigned on October 2, 2017. : Resigned on October 30, 2017 after being appointed as presidential spokesperson. : Resigned on July 11, 2018 after being appointed as Justice undersecretary. : Died on September 23, 2018. : Resigned on November 21, 2018 : Died on December 22, 2018

Committees

Constitutional bodies

*Originally Koko Pimentel (PDP–Laban) from July 25, 2016, to May 21, 2018.

Senate committees

*more popularly known as the Blue Ribbon Committee.

House of Representatives committees

Changes in membership

Senate

House of Representatives

District Representatives

Party-list Representatives

Laws passed

The 17th Congress passed a total of 379 bills which were signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte. 120 of these laws were national in scope, while 259 were local. Some of these laws include: * Republic Act 10923: Postponing of the Philippine barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, 2016 * Republic Act 10931:

Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act The Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, officially designated as Republic Act 10931, is a Philippine law that institutionalizes free tuition and exemption from other fees in state universities and colleges (SUCs), and local univer ...

* Republic Act 10952: Postponing of the Philippine barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, 2016 * Republic Act 10962: Gift Check Act of 2017 * Republic Act 10966: Making December 8 as a nonworking holiday commemorating the feast of the Immaculate Conception * Republic Act 11014: The First Philippine Republic Day Act * Republic Act 11053: Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 * Republic Act 11054:

Bangsamoro Organic Law The Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL; fil, Batayang Batas para sa Rehiyong Awtonomo ng Bangsamoro), also known as the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), and officially designated as Republic Act No. 11054, is a Philippine law that provided for the establis ...

* Republic Act 11055: Philippine Identification System Act * Republic Act 11058: Occupational Safety and Health Standards Law

References

{{Philippine legislative periods Congresses of the Philippines Fifth Philippine Republic