What are the Qualifications to Run as Congressman in the Philippines?

This article talks about the qualifications to run as Congressman in the Philippines.

District and Party-List Representatives

Art. VI, Sec. 1 of the Constitution provides that the Congress of the Philippines shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The House is classified into two kinds of members in light of Section 5(1), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution, namely, (1) district representatives, who are elected based on district boundaries and (2) party-list representatives, who are elected on a nationwide basis [Albano vs. Comelec, G.R. No. 257610, 24 January 2023]. Both district and party-list representatives are more popularly called as Congressmen.

Qualifications under the Constitution

The qualifications of Congressmen are provided for in Art. VI, Sec. 5 of the Constitution which states:

Section 6. No person shall be a Member of the House of Representatives unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines and, on the day of the election, is at least twenty-five years of age, able to read and write, and, except the party-list representatives, a registered voter in the district in which he shall be elected, and a resident thereof for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the day of the election.”

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As such, here are the basic qualifications to run as Congressman (district and party-list representatives) in the Philippines:

1. 1. natural born citizen of the Philippines
   2. registered voter in his district (except for party-list representatives where being a registered voter in any part of the Philippines is sufficient)
   3. able to read and write
   4. at least 25 years of age on the day of election. In case of a nominee of the youth sector party-list, he must at least be twenty-five (25) but not more than thirty (30) years of age on the day of the election.
   5. a resident of his district for not less than 1 year immediately preceding the day of the election (except for party-list representatives where being a resident in any part of the Philippines is sufficient)
   6. Only for party-list representatives : a bona fide member of the party or organization which he seeks to represent for at least ninety (90) days preceding the day of the election

About Nicolas and De Vega Law Offices

If you need assistance on Philippine election law matters, we can help you. Nicolas and de Vega Law Offices is a full-service law firm in the Philippines.  You may visit us at the 16th Flr., Suite 1607 AIC Burgundy Empire Tower, ADB Ave., Ortigas Center, 1605 Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines.  You may also call us at +632 84706126, +632 84706130, +632 84016392 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Visit our website https://ndvlaw.com.