South Cotabato's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in South Cotabato that encompasses the western municipalities of Lake Sebu, Norala, Santo Niño, Surallah, and T'boli. It previously encompassed the Sarangani Bay region, a former territory of South Cotabato, from 1987 to 1995. It has been represented in the House of Representatives since 2025 and previously from 1987 to 1995. It is currently represented in the 20th Congress by Dibu Tuan of the Lakas–CMD.
History The district was initially created in 1987 under the ordinance annex of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines that divided South Cotabato into three congressional districts. The district was dissolved in 1995 following the ratification of the law that created the province of Sarangani in March 1992, wherein both provinces would elect their respective provincial at-large representatives beginning in May 1995.
It was later recreated on March 11, 2019, from South Cotabato's 1st district, with General Santos being the sole component under Republic Act No. 11243. The title of the act mentions creating "the Lone Legislative District of General Santos City," but its Section 1, paragraph (C) shows that General Santos was South Cotabato's 3rd district. As it was too late in the preparation for the May 2019 elections, elections were postponed to October 2019. As the ballots, which showed the old configuration with General Santos as part of the first district, also had ballot questions for other positions, voting went through, and voters freely voted on the 1st district race. Days before the rescheduled election, the Supreme Court declared the postponement as unconstitutional, and declared the candidate with the most votes in May 2019 as the winner, with the 3rd district as General Santos scheduled to be first contested in 2022.
However, the South Cotabato's districts were redistricted in 2022 through a law that reapportioned South Cotabato's districts into three and made General Santos officially a single, distinct legislative district.
Representation history # Image Member Term of office Congress Party Electoral history ConstituentLGUsStartEndSouth Cotabato's 3rd district for the House of Representatives of the Philippines District created February 2, 1987, from South Cotabato's at-large district. 1 James L. Chiongbian June 30, 1987 June 30, 1995 8th Lakas ng Bansa Elected in 1987. 1987–1995Alabel, Glan, Kiamba, Maasim, Maitum, Malapatan, Malungon 9th LDP Re-elected in 1992.Redistricted to Sarangani's at-large district. Lakas District dissolved into Sarangani's at-large district.District recreated on March 11, 2019 from South Cotabato's 1st district. Redistricted on June 2, 2022, from South Cotabato's 2nd district. 2 Dibu Tuan June 30, 2025 Incumbent 20th Aksyon Elected in 2025. 2025–presentLake Sebu, Norala, Santo Niño, Surallah, T'boli Lakas
See also Legislative districts of South Cotabato South Cotabato's 1st congressional district South Cotabato's 2nd congressional district General Santos's lone congressional district Legislative districts of Cotabato Legislative districts of Sarangani Legislative districts of Sultan Kudarat
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