The 18th Congress of the Philippines (Filipino: Ikalabingwalong Kongreso ng Pilipinas), composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives, met from July 22, 2019, until June 1, 2022, during the last three years of Rodrigo Duterte's presidency. The convening of the 18th Congress followed the 2019 general elections, which replaced half of the Senate membership and the entire membership of the House of Representatives.
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:
Senate[edit]
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House of Representatives[edit]
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The following are the terms of the senators of this Congress, according to the date of election:
| Senator | Party | Term | Term expiry |
In office | Bloc | City/municipality of registration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Sonny Angara | LDP | 2 | 2025 | 2013–present | Majority | Baler, Aurora | |
| 2.Nancy Binay | UNA | 2 | 2025 | 2013–present | Majority | Makati | |
| 3.Pia Cayetano | Nacionalista | 1 | 2025 | 2019–present | Majority | Taguig | |
| 4.Leila de Lima[a] | Liberal | 1 | 2022 | 2016–2022 | Minority | Parañaque | |
| 5.Ronald dela Rosa | PDP–Laban | 1 | 2025 | 2019–present | Majority | Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur | |
| 6.Franklin Drilon | Liberal | 2 | 2022 | 2010–2022 | Minority | Iloilo City | |
| 7.Win Gatchalian | NPC | 1 | 2022 | 2016–present | Majority | Valenzuela | |
| 8.Bong Go | PDP–Laban | 1 | 2025 | 2019–present | Majority | Davao City | |
| 9.Dick Gordon | Bagumbayan | 1 | 2022 | 2016–2022 | Majority | Olongapo | |
| 10.Risa Hontiveros | Akbayan | 1 | 2022 | 2016–present | Minority | Manila | |
| 11.Panfilo Lacson | Independent | 1 | 2022 | 2016–2022 | Majority | Imus, Cavite | |
| 12.Lito Lapid | NPC | 1 | 2025 | 2019–present | Majority | Porac, Pampanga | |
| 13.Imee Marcos | Nacionalista | 1 | 2025 | 2019–present | Majority | Batac, Ilocos Norte | |
| 14.Manny Pacquiao | PROMDI | 1 | 2022 | 2016–2022 | Majority | Kiamba, Sarangani | |
| 15.Francis Pangilinan | Liberal | 1 | 2022 | 2016–2022 | Minority | Quezon City | |
| 16.Koko Pimentel | PDP–Laban | 3[b] | 2025 | 2011–present | Majority | Cagayan de Oro | |
| 17.Grace Poe | Independent | 2 | 2025 | 2013–present | Majority | San Juan | |
| 18.Ralph Recto | Nacionalista | 2 | 2022 | 2010–2022 | Majority | Lipa, Batangas | |
| 19.Bong Revilla | Lakas | 1 | 2025 | 2019–present | Majority | Bacoor, Cavite | |
| 20.Tito Sotto | NPC | 2 | 2022 | 2010–2022 | Majority | Quezon City | |
| 21.Francis Tolentino | PDP–Laban | 1 | 2025 | 2019–present | Majority | Tagaytay, Cavite | |
| 22.Joel Villanueva | Independent | 1 | 2022 | 2016–present | Majority | Bocaue, Bulacan | |
| 23.Cynthia Villar | Nacionalista | 2 | 2025 | 2013–present | Majority | Las Piñas | |
| 24.Migz Zubiri | Independent | 1 | 2022 | 2016–present | Majority | Malaybalay, Bukidnon | |
Notes
Terms of members of the House of Representatives started on June 30, 2019, took office on July 22, 2019, and ended on June 30, 2022, unless stated otherwise.
Notes
| Party | Representative | Term | Bloc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) | Eric Yap | 1 | Majority |
| Jocelyn Tulfo | 1 | Majority | |
| Rowena Niña Taduran | 1 | Majority | |
| Bayan Muna | Carlos Isagani Zarate | 3 | Minority |
| Ferdinand Gaite | 1 | Minority | |
| Eufemia Cullamat | 1 | Minority | |
| Ako Bicol Political Party (AKO BICOL) | Alfredo Garbin Jr. | 2 | Majority |
| Elizalde Co | 1 | Majority | |
| Citizens' Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) | Eddie Villanueva | 1 | Majority |
| Domingo Rivera | 1 | Majority | |
| Alyansa ng mga Mamamayang Probinsyano (ANG PROBINSYANO) | Alfred Delos Santos | 1 | Majority |
| Ronnie Ong | 1 | Majority | |
| One Patriotic Coalition of Marginalized Nationals (1PACMAN) | Mikee Romero | 2 | Majority |
| Enrico Pineda | 2 | Majority | |
| Marino Samahan ng mga Seaman, Inc. (MARINO) | Carlo Lisandro Gonzalez | 1 | Majority |
| Jose Antonio Lopez[a] | 1 | Majority | |
| Macnell Lusotan[b] | 1 | Majority | |
| Probinsyano Ako | Rudys Caesar Fariñas I | 1 | Majority |
| Jose Singson Jr. | 1 | Minority | |
| Coalition of Associations of Senior Citizens in the Philippines (SENIOR CITIZENS) | Francisco Datol Jr.[c] | 2 | Majority |
| Rodolfo Ordanes[d] | 1 | Majority | |
| Magkakasama Sa Sakahan, Kaunlaran (MAGSASAKA) | Argel Joseph Cabatbat | 1 | Minority |
| Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) | Sergio Dagooc | 1 | Minority |
| Gabriela Women's Party (GABRIELA) | Arlene Brosas | 2 | Minority |
| An Waray | Florencio Gabriel Noel | 1 | Majority |
| Cooperative Natcco Network (COOP-NATCCO) | Sabiniano Canama | 2 | Majority |
| Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT Teachers) | France Castro | 2 | Minority |
| Philippine Rural Electronic Cooperatives Association, Inc. (PHILRECA) | Presley De Jesus | 1 | Majority |
| Ako Bisaya | Sonny Lagon | 1 | Majority |
| Tingog Sinirangan | Yedda Marie Romualdez | 2 | Majority |
| Abono | Conrado Estrella III | 3 | Majority |
| Buhay Hayaan Yumabong (BUHAY) | Lito Atienza | 3 | Independent Minority |
| Duterte Youth | Ducielle Cardema[d] | 1 | Majority |
| Kalinga-Advocacy for Social Empowerment and Nation-Building Through Easing Poverty, Inc. (KALINGA) | Irene Gay Saulog | 1 | Minority |
| Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) | Jericho Nograles | 2 | Majority |
| Alliance of Organizations, Networks and Associations of the Philippines (ALONA) | Anna Marie Villaraza-Suarez | 2 | Majority |
| Rural Electronic Consumers and Beneficiaries of Development and Advancement, Inc (RECOBODA) | Godofredo Guya | 1 | Minority |
| Bagong Henerasyon (BH) | Bernadette Herrera-Dy | 2 | Majority |
| Bahay Para sa Pamilyang Pilipino, Inc. (BAHAY) | Naealla Rose Bainto-Aguinaldo | 1 | Majority |
| Construction Workers' Solidarity (CWS) | Romeo Momo Sr. | 1 | Majority |
| Abang Lingkod | Joseph Stephen Paduano | 3 | Minority |
| Advocacy for Teacher Empowerment through Action, Cooperation and Harmony towards Educational Reforms, Inc. (A TEACHER) | Maria Victoria Umali | 1 | Minority |
| Barangay Health Wellness (BHW) | Angelica Natasha Co | 1 | Minority |
| Social Amelioration and Genuine Intervention on Poverty (SAGIP) | Rodante Marcoleta | 2 | Majority |
| Trade Union Congress Party (TUCP) | Raymond Democrito Mendoza | 5 | Majority |
| Magdalo Para sa Pilipino (MAGDALO) | Manuel Cabochan | 1 | Majority |
| Galing sa Puso Party (GP) | Jose Gay Padiernos | 1 | Majority |
| Manila Teachers' Savings and Loan Association (MANILA TEACHERS) | Virgilio Lacson | 2 | Majority |
| Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM) | Aloysia Lim | 1 | Majority |
| Alagaan Natin Ating Kalusugan (ANAKALUSUGAN) | Mike Defensor | 1 | Majority |
| Ako Padayon Pilipino (AKO PADAYON) | Adriano Ebcas | 1 | Majority |
| Ang Asosasyon Sang Mangunguma Nga Bisaya Owa Mangunguma (AAMBIS-OWA) | Sharon Garin | 4 | Majority |
| Kusug Tausug | Shernee Tan | 2 | Majority |
| Dumper Philippines Taxi Drivers Association, Inc (Dumper-PTDA) | Claudine Diana Bautista | 1 | Majority |
| Talino at Galing ng Pinoy (TGP) | Jose Teves Jr. | 1 | Majority |
| Public Safety Alliance for Transformation and Rule of Law, Inc (PATROL) | Jorge Antonio Bustos | 1 | Majority |
| Anak Mindanao (AMIN) | Amihilda Sangcopan | 2 | Majority |
| Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines (AGAP) | Rico Geron | 3 | Majority |
| LPG Marketers Association, Inc (LPGMA) | Rodolfo Albano Jr.[e] | 1 | Majority |
| Allan Ty[f] | 1 | Majority | |
| OFW Family Club, Inc. (OFW FAMILY CLUB) | Bobby Pacquiao | 1 | Majority |
| Kabalikat ng Mamamayan (KABAYAN) | Ron Salo | 2 | Majority |
| Democratic Independent Workers Association (DIWA) | Michael Edgar Aglipay | 1 | Majority |
| Kabataan | Sarah Elago | 2 | Minority |
Notes
| Committee | Senate | House of Representatives | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Party | Minority leader | Party | Chairman | Party | District | Minority leader | Party | District | |||||
| Commission on Appointments | Tito Sotto | NPC | Francis Pangilinan | Liberal | Ronaldo Zamora | PDP–Laban | San Juan | Alex Advincula | NUP | Cavite–3rd | ||||
| Electoral tribunals | Pia Cayetano | Nacionalista | Franklin Drilon | Liberal | Dale Malapitan | PDP–Laban | Caloocan–1st | [to be determined] | ||||||
| Judicial and Bar Council | Dick Gordon | Independent | — | Vicente Veloso | NUP | Leyte–3rd | — | |||||||
As of July 2019, bills seeking to reinstate capital punishment in the Philippines have been revived in the Senate ahead of the opening of the 18th Congress.[20]
The 18th Congress enacted the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and Bayanihan to Recover as One Act as response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.
In May 2020, the House of Representatives acted on the pending franchise renewal bills of ABS-CBN that has been pending since July 2019.
In 2020, the position of Speaker was disputed, which in the latter part of the year threatened the passage of a bill legislating the national government's budget for 2021. The dispute involved then-speaker and Pateros–Taguig representative Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque representative Lord Allan Velasco. This started in July 2019, when the two had a "term-sharing agreement" which was brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte.[21] Under that deal, Cayetano would serve as House Speaker for the first 15 months of the 18th Congress, or until October 2020. Cayetano was to step down from his position as speaker in order to give way for the election of Velasco as speaker.[22]
Cayetano, in March 2020, accused Velasco and his camp of a conspiracy to remove him from his position as House Speaker. Velasco denied Cayetano's allegation of supposed ouster plot, stating it "baseless."[23] Cayetano initially oversaw deliberations on the 2021 national budget but tensions in the lower house of the Congress grew by September 2020. His camp abruptly ended sessions in which some legislators criticizing the move which prevented them from scrutinizing proposals on the 2021 budget.[24]
Cayetano offered to resign but his camp claim that majority of the House of Representatives declined his resignation.[24] On October 12, 2020, Lord Allan Velasco and some legislators convened at the Celebrity Sports Complex in Quezon City[25] and conducted a house session where positions including the speakership was declared vacant and appointed Velasco as house speaker. Velasco's camp claimed that 186 lawmakers voted for his appointment as house speaker. Cayetano's camp declared the session a "travesty" and questioned the legality of the session itself. Cayetano maintained that he remains as house speaker.[24] On the other hand, Cayetano called the appointment of Velasco as a speaker a "fake session" as he added that there was no prior plenary resolution authorizing the holding of a session outside the Batasang Pambansa and insists that the House of Representative mace used in the meeting is illegal.[26]
On October 13, 2020, during the start of the special session of the House, Velasco's election as House Speaker last October 12, 2020 was formally ratified by 186 representatives assembled in the Batasang Pambansa.[27] At the same time, Cayetano tendered his "irrevocable" resignation as House Speaker on his Facebook Live paving the way for Velasco to assume his position undisputed.[28]
| District | Vacating member | Caretaker | Special election | Successor | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Party | Date | Reason | Member | Party | Date | |||||
| Benguet | Nestor Fongwan[5] | PDP–Laban | December 18, 2019 | Died in office | Eric Yap[29] | Not held | |||||
| Camarines Sur–1st | Marissa Mercado-Andaya[6] | NPC | July 5, 2020 | Died in office | Michael John Duavit[30] | ||||||
| Sorsogon–2nd | Bernardita Ramos[9] | NPC | September 8, 2020 | Died in office | Evelina Escudero[30] | ||||||
| Cebu City–1st | Raul del Mar[7] | Liberal | November 16, 2020 | Died in office | Lord Allan Velasco[31] | ||||||
| Antipolo–2nd | Resurreccion Acop[4] | NUP | May 28, 2021 | Died in office | Lord Allan Velasco[32] | ||||||
| Southern Leyte | Roger Mercado[12] | Lakas | October 13, 2021 | Appointed Secretary of Public Works and Highways | |||||||
| Tarlac–1st | Carlos Cojuangco[13] | NPC | February 22, 2022 | Died in office | |||||||
| Camarines Norte–2nd | Marisol Panotes[33] | PDP–Laban | April 29, 2022 | Died in office | |||||||
| Member | Party | Date | Reason | Successor | Took office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jose Antonio Lopez[14] | MARINO | July 25, 2019 | Resigned | Macnell Lusotan[10] | November 4, 2019 |
| Rodolfo Albano Jr.[18] | LPGMA | November 5, 2019 | Died in office | Allan Ty[19] | November 20, 2019 |
| Francisco Datol Jr.[16] | SENIOR CITIZENS | August 10, 2020 | Died in office | Rodolfo Ordanes[17] | October 13, 2020 |
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This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (July 2022)
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The 18th Congress passed a total of 311 bills which were signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte. 119 of these laws were national in scope, while 192 were local:[34]
| Republic Act | Short title | Sponsor(s) | Third reading votes (Yea–nay–abstention) | Presidential action | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| House | Senate | ||||
| RA 11462 | Postponing the May 2020 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections | Sen. Imee Marcos | 194–6 | 21–0 | Signed December 3, 2019 |
| RA 11463 | Malasakit Centers Act | Sen. Bong Go | 186–1–7 | 18–0 | Signed December 3, 2019 |
| RA 11464 | Reenacting the General Appropriations Act of 2019 | Rep. Isidro Ungab | 193–0 | 19–0 | Signed December 20, 2019 |
| RA 11465 | General Appropriations Act of 2020 | Rep. Isidro Ungab, Eileen Ermita-Buhain, Estrellita Suansing | 257–6 | 22–0 | Signed January 6, 2020 |
| RA 11466 | Salary Standardization Law of 2019 | Sen. Bong Revilla | 187–5 | 21–0–1 | Signed January 8, 2020 |
| RA 11467 | Amendments to the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 | Rep. Joey Salceda, Estrellita Suansing, Sharon Garin | 184–2–1 | 20–0 | Signed January 22. 2020, with line vetoes |
| RA 11468 | The National Day of Remembrance For Road Crash Victims, Survivors, and Their Families Act | Sen. Grace Poe | 234–0 | 20–0 | Signed January 23, 2020 |
| RA 11469 | Bayanihan to Heal as One Act | Sen. Tito Sotto, Pia Cayetano | 284–9 | 20–1 | Signed March 24, 2020 |
| RA 11470 | The National Academy of Sports | Sen. Win Gatchalian | 206–0 | 21–0 | Signed June 9, 2020 |
| RA 11471 | Creating Barangay H-2 in Dasmariñas, Cavite | Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. | 213–0 | 20–0 | Signed June 19, 2020 |
| RA 11472 | Upgrading the Caraga Regional Hospital | Rep. Robert Ace Barbers | 170–0 | 18–0 | Signed June 19, 2020 |
| RA11473 | Renaming the Talisay District Hospital into Cebu South Medical Center in Cebu | Rep. Eduardo Gullas | 182–0 | 20–0 | Signed June 19, 2020 |
| RA 11474 | Upgrading the Maria L. Eleazar District Hospital in Quezon | Rep. Alyssa Sheena Tan | 231–0 | 20–0 | Signed June 19, 2020 |
| RA 11475 | Transferring of Rizal's capital from PasigtoAntipolo | Rep. Roberto Puno | 213–0 | 19–0 | Signed June 19, 2020 |
| RA 11476 | GMRC and Values Education Act | Sen. Win Gatchalian | 225–0 | 23–0 | Signed June 25, 2020 |
| RA 11477 | Granting of franchise to Golden Broadcast Professional, Inc | Rep. Cesar Jimenez Jr. | 216–0–1 | 18–0 | Signed June 25, 2020 |
| RA 11478 | Increasing the bed capacity of Bicol Medical Center in Naga | Sen. Bong Go | 182–0 | 14–0 | Signed July 1, 2020 |
| RA 11479 | Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 | Sen. Panfilo Lacson | 168–36–29 | 19–2 | Signed July 3, 2020 |
| RA 11480 | Changing the opening day of schools | Sen. Win Gatchalian | 241–0 | 23–0 | Signed July 17, 2020 |
| RA 11481 | Granting of franchise to First United Broadcasting Corporation | Rep. Aurelio Gonzales | 222–0 | 19–0 | Signed July 30, 2020 |
| RA 11482 | Granting of franchise to Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media | Rep. Xavier Romulado | 220–0 | 19–0 | Signed July 30, 2020 |
| RA 11483 | Converting several provincial roads in Tarlac into national roads | Rep. Victor Yap | 231–0 | 23–0 | Signed August 14, 2020 |
| RA 11484 | Converting road connecting Tubao, La Union and Tuba, Benguet into a national roat | Rep. Sandra Eriguel | 231–0 | 23–0 | Signed August 14, 2020 |
| RA 11485 | Converting the Guimba–Talugtug–Umingan Provincial Road into a national road | Rep. Estrellita Suansing | 231–0 | 23–0 | Signed August 14, 2020 |
| RA 11486 | Converting the road network connecting San Fernando and Bula, Camarines Sur into a national road | Rep. Luis Raymond Villafuerte | 231–0 | 23–0 | Signed August 14, 2020 |
| RA 11487 | Converting the Albay Diversion Road in Camarines Sur into a national road | Rep. Luis Raymond Villafuerte | 231–0 | 23–0 | Signed August 14, 2020 |
| RA 11488 | Transferring the Sorsogon Second District Engineering Office from BulantoGubat. | Rep. Bernadita Ramos | 222–0 | 23–0 | Signed August 14, 2020 |
| RA 11489 | Creating the Cebu Seventh District Engineering Office | Rep. Peter John Calderon | 222–0 | 23–0 | Signed August 14, 2020 |
| RA 11490 | Creating the Cotabato Third District Engineering Office | Rep. Elandro Madrona | 232–0 | 23–0 | Signed August 14, 2020 |
| RA 11491 | Granting of franchise to Crusaders Broadcasting System | Rep. Onyx Crisologo | 226–0 | 19–0 | Signed August 14, 2020 |
| RA 11492 | Granting of franchise to Gold Label Broadcasting System | Rep. Manuel Sagarbarria | 233–0–1 | 18–0 | Signed August 14, 2020 |
| RA 11493 | Granting of franchise to Bicol Broadcasting System | Rep. Salvio Fortuno | 170–0 | 19–0 | Signed August 14, 2020 |
| RA 11494 | Bayanihan to Recover as One Act | Sen. Sonny Angara | 242–6 | 22–1 | Signed September 11, 2020 |
One treaty has been approved by the Senate:
| Resolution number | Title | Foreign party | Vote | Date of approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution 34 | RP-Russian Federation Treaty on Extradition |  Russia
|
19–0 | December 18, 2019 |
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Legislative periods of the Philippines
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| First Republic |
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| U.S. insular territory |
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| Commonwealth |
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| Second Republic |
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| Commonwealth |
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| Third Republic |
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| Fourth Republic |
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| Fifth Republic |
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