Philippine Councilors League

Organization of city and municipal legislators in the Philippines

Philippine Councilors LeagueLiga ng mga Konsehal ng Pilipinas

Established| September 1990; 34 years ago (1990-09)
Headquarters| 10th Floor, DILG-NAPOLCOM Center, EDSA corner Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
Membership| 17,163 as of March 2020

National President

| Handy Lao

National Chairperson

| Raul Corro
Website| www.philippinecouncilorsleague.org

The Philippine Councilors League (PCL; Filipino: Liga ng mga Konsehal ng Pilipinas) is an official organization in the Philippines composed of all elected, appointed, and ex officio members of legislative councils in the cities and municipalities of the country.

The presidents of the PCL's provincial chapters are ex officio members of their province's legislature (Sangguniang Panlalawigan).

## Overview

[edit]

Each city in the Philippines has a legislature known as a Sangguniang Panlungsod (city council) composed of 10 to 36 regular members and at least 2 ex officio members.[a][1] Each municipality in the Philippines also has its respective legislature known as a Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council) composed of 8 regular members[b] and at least 2 ex officio members.[a][2] All elected, appointed, and ex officio members of those legislative councils automatically become members of the PCL.[3]

The PCL members of a province—i.e. the councilors of a province's component cities and municipalities—elect a president of their provincial chapter who will then serve as an ex officio member of their Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial legislature).[4]

Councilors serve three-year terms, renewable twice consecutively.[5] The most recent election was held in 2025, and the next is scheduled for 2028.

## History

[edit]

The idea to form a nationwide organization of councilors emerged in 1989. In July that year, the Metro Manila Councilors League (MMPCL) was formed. They then encouraged councilors outside Metro Manila to form regional and provincial federations. In September 1990, the existing organizations of councilors held the first Philippine Councilors League (PCL) congress in Manila. Guillermo C. Altuna of Quezon City was elected as the first national chairman, while Ponciano D. Subido of Manila was elected the first national president. That same month, the PCL was accredited by the Department of Local Government and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In 1991, the Local Government Code established that each provincial legislature would allocate one seat for the president of the province's PCL chapter.[6]

On February 27, 2020, the outgoing national board declared a failure of elections after the automated election system contracted by the organization to conduct the election of its national officers failed.[7] Competing for the top position were councilors Danilo Dayanghirang from Davao City, who was handpicked by President Rodrigo Duterte,[8][9] and Jesciel Richard Salceda from Polangui, Albay.[10]

## Leadership

[edit]

### National Chairpersons

[edit]

Image  | National Chairperson
(Lifespan) | Constituency
Region | Party  | Term of office  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

| Guillermo C. Altuna
(died 1996) | Quezon City
NCR |  |  | Sep. 1990  |  | [11][12]
Missing data for the terms 1993-1996, 1996-1999, and 1999-2002.
| Elmer O. Datuin  | Baguio City
CAR |  |  | 2002  | June 30, 2007
Term-limited | [13][14]
| Michael B. Fernandez (Interim)
(born 1973) | Dagupan City
Region I |  | Lakas | June 30, 2007  | March 30, 2008  | [15][16]
| Alan D. Zulueta  | Tagum City, Davao del Norte
Region XI |  | Liberal | March 30, 2008  | March 2014  | [17][18]
| Alma Moreno
(born 1959) | Parañaque City
NCR |  | Liberal | March 2014  | June 30, 2016
Term-limited | [19]
| Elmer O. Datuin (Interim) | Baguio City
CAR |  | UNA | June 30, 2016  | March 2017  | [20][21]
| Danilo C. Dayanghirang  | Davao City
Region XI |  | PDP
Local: Hugpong | March 2017  | June 30, 2022
Lost seat | [22][23]
| Vandolph Quizon (Interim)
(born 1984) | Parañaque City
NCR |  | PDP | June 30, 2022  | March 9, 2023  | [24]
| Raul C. Corro  | Muntinlupa City
NCR |  | 1Munti | March 9, 2023  | Present  | [25]

### National Presidents

[edit]

Image  | National President
(Lifespan) | Constituency
(Region) | Party  | Term of office  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

| Ponciano D. Subido
(1937/1938-2012) | City of Manila
NCR |  |  | Sep. 1990  |  | [11]
Missing data for the terms 1992-1995 and 1995-1998.
| Michael L. Rama
(born 1954) | Cebu City, Cebu
2nd (South) District
Region VII |  | PROMDI
Local: BOPK | 1998  | June 30, 2001
Elected Vice Mayor | [26]
| Salvador D. Pangilinan  | Makati City
NCR |  |  | As of Feb. 2002  | [27]
Missing data for the terms 2002-2005 and 2005-2008.
| Carlo P. Fortuna  | Mandaue City, Cebu
Region VII |  | Lakas |  | June 30, 2007
Elected vice mayor | [13][28]
| Arecio R. Rendor, Jr. (Interim) | Oas, Albay
Region V |  |  | June 30, 2007  | March 30, 2008  | [15][29][30]
| Ronald P. Carcillar  | Poro, Cebu
Region VII |  |  | March 30, 2008  | March 2011  | [31][32]
| Alma Moreno
(born 1959) | Parañaque City
NCR |  | Lakas | March 2011  | March 2014  | [19]
| Maybelyn Rose D. Fernandez
(born 1982) | Dagupan City
Region I |  | Liberal | March 2014  | March 2017  | [20][33]
| Luis "Chavit" C. Singson
(born 1941) | Narvacan, Ilocos Sur
Region I |  | Nacionalista | March 2017  | June 30, 2019
Elected Mayor | [22]
| Handy T. Lao
(born 1980) | Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
Region I |  | Nacionalista
Local: Team Marcos | June 23, 2022
(Interim) | March 9, 2023  | [25][34][35]
March 9, 2023  | June 30, 2025
Lost seat

## Notes

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1. ^ a b One from the Liga ng mga Barangay and one from the Sangguniang Kabataan. Some councils also have a reserved seat for the indigenous peoples community.
2. ^ Except for Pateros which has 12 regular council members.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Republic Act No. 6636 (November 6, 1987), "2 & 3", An Act Resetting the Local Elections from November 9, 1987 To January 18, 1988, Amending for this Purpose Executive Order Numbered 270, archived from the original on January 20, 2022, retrieved December 27, 2023
2. ^ Batas Pambansa Blg. 51 (December 22, 1979), "4", An Act Providing for the Elective or Appointive Positions in Various Local Governments and for Other Purposes.
3. ^ "PCL Constitution and By-Laws". pcl.bulacan.gov.ph. Philippine Councilors League - Bulacan chapter. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
4. ^ Republic Act No. 7160 (1991), "41(b)", The Local Government Code of the Philippines (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2023, retrieved December 27, 2023
5. ^ Republic Act No. 7160 (1991), "43(a) & (b)", The Local Government Code of the Philippines (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2023, retrieved December 27, 2023
6. ^ "About Philippine Councilors League". pcl.bulacan.gov.ph. Philippine Councilors League - Bulacan chapter. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
7. ^ Gonzales, Cathrine (February 28, 2020). "Philippine Councilors League declares failure of elections". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
8. ^ Chavez, Chito (February 23, 2020). "Davao councilor alleges vote-buying in PCL national election". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
9. ^ Laking, Jimmy (February 25, 2020). "Uphill fight for 'Doc' Danny in bid to retain his PCL post". The Mindanao Daily Mirror. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
10. ^ "Salceda kin seeks PCL national chair". Manila Standard. January 21, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
11. ^ a b "About Philippine Councilors League - PCL Bulacan". Retrieved June 3, 2025.
12. ^ "Resolution No. SP-1943, S-2002" (PDF). Quezon City Council. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
13. ^ a b Sison, Bebot Jr.; Felipe, Cecille Suerte (February 26, 2006). "More local officials, youth leaders back state of emergency". PhilSTAR. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
14. ^ "Professional". Elmer Datuin's Professional Profile. SITE123. Archived from the original on June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
15. ^ a b "7th National Congress of the Philippine Councilors League". Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
16. ^ Fernandez, Maybelyn dela Cruz (June 2, 2024). "Facebook post". Facebook. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
17. ^ "8th National Congress of the Philippine Councilors League". Department of the Interior and Local Government. January 4, 2011. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
18. ^ "9th National Congress of the Philippine Councilors League". Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
19. ^ a b "Philippine Councilors League - Coun. Alma Moreno". Philippine Councilors League. Archived from the original on April 24, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
20. ^ a b "March 09, 2017 – Photo Releases". Presidential Communications Office. Archived from the original on September 24, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
21. ^ "Baguio City - Benguet - City/Municipality Results - Eleksyon2016". GMA News. May 18, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
22. ^ a b "Philippine Councilors League". Philippine Councilors League. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
23. ^ "City of Davao - Davao del Sur Election Results". GMA News Online. May 13, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
24. ^ Chavez, Chito (November 12, 2022). "Abalos tells local executives to allow council members attend PCL assembly". Manila Bulletin. Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
25. ^ a b De Leon, Susan (June 22, 2023). "Pres. Marcos to attend PCL's 2023 National Convention, leads oath-taking of new set of officers". Philippine Information Agency. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
26. ^ Cordova, Calvin (July 22, 2022). "Cebu City Mayor Rama elected League of Cities president". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
27. ^ "Magat v. Gallardo, G.R. No. 209375". Supreme Court E-Library. Supreme Court of the Philippines. June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
28. ^ "Atty. Carlo Fortuna: Usa ka Abogado, Usa ka Lider, Usa ka Kasaligan! (A lawyer, a leader, reliable)". Facebook - Atty. Carlo Fortuna Supporters. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
29. ^ Rendor, Roman III (February 3, 2025). "Roman "Manrox" Ricafort Rendor III". Facebook - One OAS. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
30. ^ Panadero, Austere. "Legal Opinion No. 74, Series of 2007" (PDF). Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
31. ^ "Bared... The curse of being a 'public property'". Bohol.ph. Bohol.ph. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
32. ^ Carcellar, Ging (June 2, 2024). "Facebook post". Facebook. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
33. ^ "Philippine Councilors League - Coun. Maybelyn Rose Dela Cruz Fernandez". Philippine Councilors League. Archived from the original on February 17, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
34. ^ Chavez, Chito (June 2, 2024). "PCL president celebrates birthday; thanks Imee, PBBM for support". Daily Tribune. Concept and Information Group, Inc. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
35. ^ Balce, Ben (June 23, 2022). "PCL interim execs take oath before Imee; Goking chose VP for M'nao". Mindanao Gold Star Daily. Gold Star Daily News Publishing. Retrieved June 3, 2025.

## External links

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* Philippine Councilors League on Facebook