The legislative district of Surigao was the representation of the historical province of Surigao in the various national legislatures of the Philippines until the election of representatives for its successor provinces in 1961. The undivided province's representation encompassed the present-day provinces of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands.
History Surigao initially comprised a lone district for the purposes of electing representatives to the First Philippine Assembly in 1907. When seats for the upper house of the Philippine Legislature were elected from territory-based districts between 1916 and 1935, the province formed part of the eleventh senatorial district which elected two out of the 24-member Senate.
During the Second World War, two delegates represented Surigao in the National Assembly of the Japanese-sponsored Second Philippine Republic: one was the provincial governor (an ex officio member), while the other was elected through a provincial assembly of KALIBAPI members during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. Upon the restoration of the Philippine Commonwealth in 1945, the province continued to constitute a single representative district.
The enactment of Republic Act No. 2786 on 19 June 1960 split Surigao into Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur, and provided each province separate representation in Congress. The new provinces first elected their separate representatives in the 1961 elections.
Lone District (defunct)
PeriodRepresentative1st Philippine Legislature1907–1909Francisco Soriano2nd Philippine Legislature1909–1912Manuel G. GavieresInocencio Cortez3rd Philippine Legislature1912–19164th Philippine Legislature1916–1919Eusebio Tiongko5th Philippine Legislature1919–19226th Philippine Legislature1922–1925Clemente V. Diez7th Philippine Legislature1925–1928Montano A. Ortiz8th Philippine Legislature1928–19319th Philippine Legislature1931–1934Vicente Gonzaga10th Philippine Legislature1934–1935Ricardo Navarro1st National Assembly1935–1938Clementino V. DiezRicardo Navarro2nd National Assembly1938–19413rd National Assembly1941–19461st Congress1946–19492nd Congress1949–1953Felixberto Veranovacant3rd Congress1953–1957Reynaldo P. Honradovacant4th Congress1957–1961Reynaldo P. Honrado
Died in 1910. Assumed office after winning special election held on 14 October 1910 to fill vacant seat. Unseated in 1938 after losing election protest to Ricardo Navarro. Replaced Clementino V. Diez in 1938 after winning election protest and being rightfully declared elected. Elected in 1951 to the Senate; seat remained vacant until the end of the 2nd Congress. Appointed Justice of the Peace, 1955; seat remained vacant until the end of the 3rd Congress.
At-Large (defunct) PeriodRepresentativesNational Assembly1943–1944Jose D. CortesFernando C. Silvosa (ex officio)
See also Legislative district of Surigao del Norte Legislative district of Dinagat Islands Legislative district of Surigao del Sur
References