Twenty-one candidates are running for the congressional race in Cavite’s seven newly-reconstituted districts.

Lawyer Juanito V. Ravanzo Jr., Cavite Commission on Elections (Comelec) supervisor, has released the official list of the 21 congressional candidates after he approved their certificates of candidacy.

Malacañang and Congress approved the measure increasing the number of congressional districts of Cavite from three to seven early last month.

With the approval, Dasmariñas City and Imus and Bacoor towns were each constituted into a solo district while the other 17 towns and three cities were reintegrated into four districts.

With the redistricting, Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, and Cavite City would now make up the first district, Bacoor, Imus and Dasmariñas City would comprise the second, third and fourth districts, respectively Carmona, General Mariano Alvarez (GMA) and Silang would compose the fifth district; General Trias, Alfonso, Tanza, and Trece Martires City the sixth district; and Alfonso, General Aguinaldo, Indang, Magallanes, Maragondon, Mendez, Naic, Ternate, and Tagaytay City the seventh district.

Ravanzo said it will be the first time that the electorate would be voting for one member of the House of Representatives and two members of Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board) in each seven districts of the province.

During the 2007 elections, there were only three districts in the province.

The election official confirmed that there are 83 candidates vying for the 23 provincial seats. He said six are running for governor, seven for vice-governor, 49 for 14 Sangguniang Panglalawigan (provincial board) seats and 21 for seven congressional seats.

The official congressional candidates are incumbent Rep. Joseph Emilio A. Abaya (Liberal Party (LP), Adel C. Dinero (Independent), incumbent Cavite City Mayor Bernardo S. Paredes (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) for 1st district, Plaridel M. Abaya (LP), Gerbie P. Ber Ado (Independent), Lani Mercado-Revilla (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), 2nd district (Bacoor); Eric A. Cerojano, Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), incumbent Governor Erineo S. Maliksi (LP), Nelia C. Servada (Alpha Omega 9K (AO9K)) and Lawyer Albert T. Villaseca (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), 3rd district (Imus); incumbent Rep. Elpidio F. Barzaga Jr., (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), Fernando C. Campos Ramon N. Campos (Nacionalista Party (NP) and Editha G. Doroteo, AO 9K, fourth district (Dasmarinas City); Armando A. de Castro (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) and Roy M. Loyola (LP), 5th district; Hermogenes F. Arayata Jr. (LP), Antonio A. Ferrer (Lakas-Kamp-CMD), Rosario C. Gonzales (AO 9K), 6th district; and incumbent Representative Jesus Crispin Remulla (NP) and Laureano S. Mendoza (LP).