GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines – Following the creation of 3 new congressional districts, Mindanao will now have a total of 59 seats in the House of Representatives that are up for grabs in the May 2013 elections.

Some of them even have more candidates than the average congressional district.

The additional congressional districts are in Bukidnon, North Cotabato, and Maguindanao.

Bukidnon will now have 4 congressional districts, the most among the 26 provinces in Mindanao. North Cotabato will get a third district, while Maguindanao will get a second district.

A total of 164 candidates are contesting the 59 elected seats for Mindanao. Having the most number of candidates is Maguindanao. It has 12 hopefuls vying for the province’s two congressional districts.

Of the 12 aspirants in Maguindanao, 8 are running in the 2^nd district, making the newly created district home to the biggest number candidates for a single district.

Next to Maguindanao, the provinces with the most number of congressional candidates are North Cotabato and Bukidnon, each with 9 aspirants.

In contrast, 7 congressional districts have lone candidates:

• Sarangani, lone district, re-electionist Rep. Manny Pacquiao;
• Composotela Valley, 1^st district, Ma. Carmen Zamora;
• Composotela Valley, 2^nd district, Rommel Amatong;
• Davao Oriental, 2^nd district, Thelma Almario;
• Bukidnon, 2^nd district, Florencio Flores Jr;
• Davao City, 3^rd district, re-electionist Isidro Ungab;
• Agusan del Norte, 2^nd district, Erlpe John Amante.

Among the cities in Mindanao that elect their own representatives, Zamboanga’s 2 congressional districts have the most number of candidates, with 10.

Cagayan de Oro City has 9 hopefuls for its 2 congressional districts. Davao City has 8 candidates for its 3 districts.

Iligan also has 6 vying for its lone congressional seat.

Six of the 12 members of the House of Representatives in Mindanao are now running for governor, two for mayor, while one is now a fugitive. – Rappler.com