Branches of Government
There are three (3) branches of government: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. One branch cannot function without the others. Our daily lives depend on how well these three branches work together. Over the course of the pandemic, we have come to realize that we should be more well-informed about our government so that we can vote for our next government leaders wisely.
Executive
Carries out and enforces laws
Composed of the President and the Vice President, the cabinet, executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commisions, and committees.
Composed of the President and the Vice President, the cabinet, executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commisions, and committees.
Legislative
Authorized to make, alter, and repeal law.
The Congress makes up the legislative branch of the government. It is composed of the Senate, also known as the upper house, and the House of Representatives known to many as the lower house. The Congress drafts, reviews, amends, and repeals proposed laws (bills). It also has the power to amend the 1987 Constitution and is tasked with passing the national budget each year.
The Congress makes up the legislative branch of the government. It is composed of the Senate, also known as the upper house, and the House of Representatives known to many as the lower house. The Congress drafts, reviews, amends, and repeals proposed laws (bills). It also has the power to amend the 1987 Constitution and is tasked with passing the national budget each year.
Judicial
Evaluates & interprets the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual cases, and decides if laws violate the Constitution.
The Judiciary is composed of the Philippine courts and the Supreme Court, the highest court of the land. Judges and Justices are appointed by the president who chooses from a pre-screened list of nominees issued by the Judicial Bar Council. The Supreme Court is composed of the Chief Justice and of the fourteen Associate Justices. The judiciary interprets the meaning of laws, applies the laws to particular cases, and decides if a law violates the Constitution.
The Judiciary is composed of the Philippine courts and the Supreme Court, the highest court of the land. Judges and Justices are appointed by the president who chooses from a pre-screened list of nominees issued by the Judicial Bar Council. The Supreme Court is composed of the Chief Justice and of the fourteen Associate Justices. The judiciary interprets the meaning of laws, applies the laws to particular cases, and decides if a law violates the Constitution.
Positions in the Government
Elections have long granted the citizens the power to change the country's status quo. With thousands of seats to be filled up in the elections, one vote can either break or change a nation.
Elections take place for people to vote for executive and legislative branches of the government on a national, provincial, and local level. National elections are for putting in position a president and a vice president. National elections are also for the 12 Senate seats, 316 seats to the House of Representatives, 81 seats for governors and vice governors, and 782 seats to provincial boards in provinces. 146 seats to city mayors and vice mayors, and 1,650 seats to city councils in all cities, 1,488 municipal mayors and vice mayors, and 11,908 seats to municipal councils in all municipalities.
Terms: 6 years; may not run for re-election
Function: The president is the head of state and of government, and functions as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. As chief executive, the president exercises control over all the executive departments, bureaus, and offices, and general supervision over local governments. The president appoints government officials, including the cabinet, the justices of the Supreme Court and heads of constitutional commissions, subject to confirmation requirements.
Qualifications:
(1) Natural born and registered voter of the Philippines
(2) A registered voter
(3) Able to read & write
(4) 40 years of age on the day of the election
(5) Resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years before the election is held
Function: The president is the head of state and of government, and functions as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. As chief executive, the president exercises control over all the executive departments, bureaus, and offices, and general supervision over local governments. The president appoints government officials, including the cabinet, the justices of the Supreme Court and heads of constitutional commissions, subject to confirmation requirements.
Qualifications:
(1) Natural born and registered voter of the Philippines
(2) A registered voter
(3) Able to read & write
(4) 40 years of age on the day of the election
(5) Resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years before the election is held
Terms: 6 years; may run for one re-election and shall not serve more than two consecutive terms
Function: The vice president succeeds the president in case of death, disability, or resignation. The vice president may be appointed to a cabinet position by the president without need for confirmation, concurrently serving as a secretary.
Qualifications:
(1) Natural born and registered voter of the Philippines
(2) A registered voter
(3) Able to read & write
(4) 40 years of age on the day of the election
(5) Resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years before the election is held
Function: The vice president succeeds the president in case of death, disability, or resignation. The vice president may be appointed to a cabinet position by the president without need for confirmation, concurrently serving as a secretary.
Qualifications:
(1) Natural born and registered voter of the Philippines
(2) A registered voter
(3) Able to read & write
(4) 40 years of age on the day of the election
(5) Resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years before the election is held
Terms: 6 years, may run for reelection but may not serve more than two consecutive terms
Function: The Senate is the upper house of Congress; the House of Representatives is the lower house. Congress holds legislative power, except to the extent reserved to the people by the provision on initiative and referendum. The Senate is the sole that ratifies treaties and convenes the impeach court.
Qualifications:
(1) Natural-born citizen of the Philippines
(2) A registered voter
(3) Able to read and write
(4) 35 years of age on the day of the election
(5) Resident of the Philippines for not less than two years before election day
Function: The Senate is the upper house of Congress; the House of Representatives is the lower house. Congress holds legislative power, except to the extent reserved to the people by the provision on initiative and referendum. The Senate is the sole that ratifies treaties and convenes the impeach court.
Qualifications:
(1) Natural-born citizen of the Philippines
(2) A registered voter
(3) Able to read and write
(4) 35 years of age on the day of the election
(5) Resident of the Philippines for not less than two years before election day
Terms: Three-year term with provision allowing possibility of re-election. No member of the House of Representatives shall serve for more than three consecutive terms, or nine years.
Function: Members of Congress in the lower House initiate, debate, and scrutinize proposed legislation, particularly appropriation, revenue, tariff bills, and bills increasing the public debt. They also file resolutions calling for probes, conduct inquiries in aid of legislation, and monitor and perform oversight functions over national and local government, as well as the implementation of laws and the performance of the Executive Department. As members of the constitutional Commission on Appointments, they also confirm certain appointments of officials by the President.
Seats: The 1987 Constitution provides that the House of Representatives shall be composed of not more than 250 members, unless otherwise fixed by law, who shall be elected from legislative districts apportioned among the provinces, cities depending on the population, and on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio, and those who, as provided by law, shall be elected through a party-list system of registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations. On the other hand, party-list representatives constitute 20% of the total number of representatives including those under the party list.
Qualifications of district representatives:
(1) Natural born citizen and registered voter in the district where the candidate intends to be elected.
(2) Resident thereof for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the day of the election.
(3) Must be able to read & write.
(4) At least 25 years of age.
Qualifications of party-list representatives:
(1) Natural born citizen and registered voter of the Philippines.
(2) Resident thereof for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the day of the election.
(3) Must be able to read & write.
(4) At least 25 years of age on the day of the election; if for the youth sector, not more than 30 years old.
(5) Bona fide member for at least 90 days of the party which the nominee seeks to represent.
(6) Nominated by the party which the nominee seeks to represent.
Function: Members of Congress in the lower House initiate, debate, and scrutinize proposed legislation, particularly appropriation, revenue, tariff bills, and bills increasing the public debt. They also file resolutions calling for probes, conduct inquiries in aid of legislation, and monitor and perform oversight functions over national and local government, as well as the implementation of laws and the performance of the Executive Department. As members of the constitutional Commission on Appointments, they also confirm certain appointments of officials by the President.
Seats: The 1987 Constitution provides that the House of Representatives shall be composed of not more than 250 members, unless otherwise fixed by law, who shall be elected from legislative districts apportioned among the provinces, cities depending on the population, and on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio, and those who, as provided by law, shall be elected through a party-list system of registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations. On the other hand, party-list representatives constitute 20% of the total number of representatives including those under the party list.
Qualifications of district representatives:
(1) Natural born citizen and registered voter in the district where the candidate intends to be elected.
(2) Resident thereof for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the day of the election.
(3) Must be able to read & write.
(4) At least 25 years of age.
Qualifications of party-list representatives:
(1) Natural born citizen and registered voter of the Philippines.
(2) Resident thereof for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the day of the election.
(3) Must be able to read & write.
(4) At least 25 years of age on the day of the election; if for the youth sector, not more than 30 years old.
(5) Bona fide member for at least 90 days of the party which the nominee seeks to represent.
(6) Nominated by the party which the nominee seeks to represent.
Terms: Three-year term with provision for re-election. No elected mayor shall serve for more than three consecutive terms, or nine consecutive years as local chief executive.
Function: Mayors serve as chief executive of the city or municipal government, enforce all laws, local ordinances, and executive orders relative to the governance of the city or municipality, ensure the delivery of basic services and the provision of adequate facilities, preside over local government offices including but not limited to the City or Municipal Development Council, City or Municipal Health Board, City or Municipal School Board, City or Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council, City or Municipal Library Board, serve as a member of the Provincial Development Council, direct the formulation of the city or municipal development plan, issue licenses and permits in accordance with law or ordinance, appoint city or municipal employees, review executive orders promulgated by the punong barangays under his jurisdiction, approve or veto ordinances from the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan
Qualifications:
(1) Citizen and registered voter of the Philippines
(2) At least 21 years of age on the day of the election. Candidates in highly urbanized cities need to be at least 23 years old on the day of the election.
(3) Must be a resident of the city or municipality where the candidate intends to be elected for at least 1 year before the day of the election.
(4) Must be able to read and write in Filipino or any other local language or dialect.
Function: Mayors serve as chief executive of the city or municipal government, enforce all laws, local ordinances, and executive orders relative to the governance of the city or municipality, ensure the delivery of basic services and the provision of adequate facilities, preside over local government offices including but not limited to the City or Municipal Development Council, City or Municipal Health Board, City or Municipal School Board, City or Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council, City or Municipal Library Board, serve as a member of the Provincial Development Council, direct the formulation of the city or municipal development plan, issue licenses and permits in accordance with law or ordinance, appoint city or municipal employees, review executive orders promulgated by the punong barangays under his jurisdiction, approve or veto ordinances from the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan
Qualifications:
(1) Citizen and registered voter of the Philippines
(2) At least 21 years of age on the day of the election. Candidates in highly urbanized cities need to be at least 23 years old on the day of the election.
(3) Must be a resident of the city or municipality where the candidate intends to be elected for at least 1 year before the day of the election.
(4) Must be able to read and write in Filipino or any other local language or dialect.
Terms: Three-year term with provision for re-election. No Punong Barangay shall serve for more than three consecutive terms, or nine years.
Function: Barangay captains serve as chief executive of the barangay government, enforce all laws and ordinances relative to the governance of the barangay, ensure the delivery of basic services and the provision of adequate facilities, preside over the Barangay Development Council, Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Committee, Barangay Library Board, serve as a member of the City or Municipal Development Council, direct the formulation of the barangay development plan, issue licenses and permits in accordance with law or ordinance, appoint barangay employees. The Punong Barangay does not have veto powers over the Sangguniang Barangay.
Qualifications:
(1) Citizen and registered voter in the barangay where the candidate intends to be elected.
(2) At least 18 years of age on the day of the election.
(3) Must be a resident of the barangay where the candidate intends to be elected for at least 1 year immediately before the day of the election.
(4) Must be able to read and write in Filipino or any other local language or dialect.
Function: Barangay captains serve as chief executive of the barangay government, enforce all laws and ordinances relative to the governance of the barangay, ensure the delivery of basic services and the provision of adequate facilities, preside over the Barangay Development Council, Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Committee, Barangay Library Board, serve as a member of the City or Municipal Development Council, direct the formulation of the barangay development plan, issue licenses and permits in accordance with law or ordinance, appoint barangay employees. The Punong Barangay does not have veto powers over the Sangguniang Barangay.
Qualifications:
(1) Citizen and registered voter in the barangay where the candidate intends to be elected.
(2) At least 18 years of age on the day of the election.
(3) Must be a resident of the barangay where the candidate intends to be elected for at least 1 year immediately before the day of the election.
(4) Must be able to read and write in Filipino or any other local language or dialect.
Why Voting Matters
Strong institutions are one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, and the act of voting and appointing government officials is a right afforded to every citizen once they turn 18. They have the power to make their voices heard just by going through the process of registering.
Ultimately, choosing the right leaders who practice good governance could help drive all SDGs to attain progress and sustainability in our country.
HOW TO REGISTER
- Prior to registration, visit www.votepilipinas.com for everything you need to know about voter registration. You can also locate the active Office of the Election Officer (OEO) near you.
- Download and fill-out the voter registration form but DO NOT sign yet. The form has to be signed in front of an election officer at the OEO.
- Go early to the OEO or registration center. Bring your own pen, face mask, vaccination card and valid IDs. Fall in line to your assigned queue (PWD, senior, pregnant, regular citizen) and submit your registration form.
- Have your biometrics captured.
- Receive your acknowledgement receipt and wait for your application to be approved by the Election Registration Board.
HOW TO EXERCISE YOUR VOTE
- Find out where to vote through COMELEC’s Precinct Finder here.
- Have your temperature checked before entering the voting center.
- Proceed to the Voters' Assistance Desk (VAD) to secure your precinct and sequence numbers and assigned room or clustered precinct.
- Go to your assigned room and introduce yourself to the Electoral Board by stating your name, precinct and sequence numbers.
- Get your ballot, ballot secrecy folder and marking pen and fill-out the ballot at the voting area.
- Accomplish the ballot by fully shading the oval appearing before the name of the candidate you wish to vote for. Do not overvote.
- Feed the ballot into the Vote Counting Machine (VCM).
- Check your voter's receipt and then deposit it in the receptacle.
- Have your right forefinger nail stained with indelible ink.
HOW TO EXERCISE YOUR VOTE IF YOU ARE PART OF THE VULNERABLE SECTOR
- Go to your precinct and look for the priority lane for senior citizens, PWDs, and pregnant women.
- Present a valid government ID to the facilitator.
- Wait your turn and cast your vote inside the precinct. You can bring a cheat sheet or a list of the candidates you want to vote for to make the process easier for you!
- Once you're done, go to the vote counting machine and insert your ballot. For senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and illiterate voters, headphones will be provided, so you can clearly hear and follow the VCM instructions.
- Indelible ink will be applied to your forefinger nail as proof of voting.
- Review your voter's receipt and drop it into the receipt receptacle box.
What if I failed to register?
Encourage registered voters to vote on May 9!
Help others become informed voters by doing research on candidates and their platforms.
Visit the Candidate Profile Dashboard of Vote Pilipinas and help spread the word.
Visit the Candidate Profile Dashboard of Vote Pilipinas and help spread the word.
Fact check posts on social and call out fake news.
Be sure to register for the next elections. Follow Vote Pilipinas on social for updates.
BE INFORMED.
SIGN UP AND GET INVOLVED.
SIGN UP AND GET INVOLVED.
WHO WE ARE
Vote Pilipinas is the official voter information campaign partner of the Commission on Elections.
Vote Pilipinas is a non-profit, non-partisan online and offline information campaign. In 2021, we helped mobilize Filipinos to register to vote. This 2022, we will work to enable all registered Filipinos to vote wisely on May 9.
Vote Pilipinas supports the implementation of Freedom of Information in the Philippines. Access information from the Philippine government via foi.gov.ph
