MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives will be a bit bigger after the May 2019 elections, with the entry of 5 additional lawmakers representing new congressional districts.

This increases the number of districts representatives in the House to 243. 

Some of those vying for these new seats are scions of political dynasties, former lawmakers, and longtime politicians.

Isabela

The Dy political family in Isabela attempts to take two newly-created districts in the province, which was redistricted via Republic Act 11080.

In the 5th district, San Manuel Mayor Faustino Michael Dy III, who is running under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), faces former congressman Edwin Uy of the ruling party PDP-Laban.

Dy III is the son of ex-Isabela governor and congressman Faustino Dy Jr. Dy III has been mayor of San Manuel town since 2010. 

Uy served as Isabela’s vice governor from 1995 to 2001, then representative of the second district from 2001 to 2010. He lost in his vice gubernatorial bid in 2010, and in his comeback bids to Congress in 2013 and 2016.

Meanwhile, barangay chairman Faustino “Inno” Dy V (PDP-Laban) takes on former San Isidro mayor Abraham Lim (Lakas-CMD) for the 6th district seat.

Inno Dy is the chairman of Barangay San Fabian in Echague and the national president of the Liga ng mga Barangay. Lim was mayor of San Isidro for 3 terms, from 2004 to 2013. He lost in his attempt to return as mayor in 2016.

Aklan 

Aklan was split into two districts through RA 11077. (READ: Four-cornered fight for governor of Aklan)

Current Aklan Lone District Representative Carlito Marquez of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) is running in the first district against two independent bets, lawyer Axel Gonzales and former Banga mayor Antonio Maming.

Marquez was Aklan governor from 2004 to 2013, then representative since 2013. Gonzales is a lawyer who also hosts some local radio shows in Aklan. Maming served as mayor of Banga from 2007 to 2013. He ran for congressman in 2013 but lost. He also failed in his bid for governor in 2016. 

In the new second district, former Aklan representative Teodorico Haresco Jr is attempting a comeback under the Nacionalista Party (NP). Haresco was the party-list representative for Ang Kasangga in 2010 before he became Aklan’s district congressman from 2013 to 2016. He lost to Marquez in the 2016 congressional race.

Two other candidates are gunning for the second district seat: 

• Juan “Johnny” Tumbokon (Independent) – son of former assemblyman Jose Tumbokon
• Anita Victoria Ramos (NPC) – daughter of prominent former congressman Godofredo Ramos

A 4th candidate, Leovigildo Mationg of PFP, died in November 2018. He was an ex-manager of Aklan Electric Cooperative. In 2016, Mationg ran for vice governor, but lost.

Cavite and Calamba City 

Two incumbent congressmen will virtually move to newly-created districts in their respective province because they are unopposed.

Cavite 7th District Representative Abraham Tolentino is running under PDP-Laban in the new 8th district, created after the redistricting through RA 11069. Tolentino was first elected to the 7th district in 2013. Before that, he was mayor of Tagaytay City for 3 terms.

Meanwhile, Laguna 2nd District Congressman Joaquin Chipeco Jr of NP is the lone candidate in the new Calamba City district, created via RA 11078. Chipeco was a longtime lawmaker of the second district, serving 3 different stints, with the latest one since 2013. He was mayor of Calamba City from 2004 to 2013. – Rappler.com