Senate leaders are seeking to have the membership of the House of Representatives increased because of the rising population in many districts.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri separately proposed the creation of additional congressional districts in the country.
Since one congressional district has up to 600,000 constituents, they said the people are not amply represented.
Sen. Joker Arroyo also pointed out the limit under the Constitution.
He said there should only be 250 members of the House, 20 percent of whom are party-list representatives.
This means the House must have 200 representatives elected by district and 50 under the party-list system, he said.
Arroyo said there are now 219 representatives elected by district and 31 through party-list.
“Nineteen representatives elected by districts have encroached on the 50 seats reserved for party-list representatives,” Arroyo pointed out. – Aurea Calica