NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No.
2817
!t)':
24 SEP 11 AiO :3G
RtLtl'.-J Bv
(In substitution of S.B. Nos. 730, 857, 1158, 1384, and 1847)
Prepared by the Committees on Electoral Reforms and Peoples Participation; 
Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professionai Regulation; and Finance, 
with Senators Villanueva, Revilla, Jr., Marcos, and Dela Rosa as authors thereof
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE COMMISSION 
ON ELECTIONS/ AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PERTINENT 
PROVISIONS OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 881/ OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE "OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE" AS AMENDED/ 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR/ AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "'COMELECIntegrity
2 
Act"
3 
SEC. 2. Statement of Policy. - The State hereby affirms and recognizes the
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independence of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) as guaranteed under Article
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IX, Part A, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution. As such, the State shall ensure and
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preserve its integrity and independence by providing suitable office space for its field
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offices and a sufficient manpower complement.


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SEC. 3. Section 53, Article VII, of Bates Pambansa Big. 881, otherwise known
2 
as the "Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines", as amended, is hereby amended
3 
to read as follows:
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"SECTION 53. Field offices of the Commission. - The Commission shall 
have the following field offices, WHOSE OFFICERS AND 
EMPLOYEES SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSION IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORGANIZATION, STAFFING, 
POSITION CLASSIFICATION, AND COMPENSATION 
STANDARDS;
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(1) Regional Election Office, headed by the Regional Election Director 
and assisted by the Assistant Regional Director and such other 
subordinate officers or employees as the Commission may appoint.
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(2) Provincial Election Office, headed by the Provincial Election 
Supervisor FOR EACH PROVINCE and assisted by [sueti] AT LEAST 
ONE (1) ELECTION ASSISTANT AND SUCH NUMBER OF 
ASSISTANTS AND other subordinate officers or employees as the 
Commission may appoint.
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(3) City/Municipal Election Office, headed by the City/Municipal 
[Registrar] ELECTION OFFICER FOR EACH CITY OR 
MUNICIPALITY. IN CITIES HAVING MORE THAN ONE (1) 
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, EACH OF SUCH LEGISLATIVE 
DISTRICTS SHALL HAVE AN ELECTION OFFICER. EACH 
ELECTION OFFICER [who] shall be assisted by AT LEAST ONE (1) 
ELECTION ASSISTANT AND SUCH NUMBER OF ASSISTANTS 
AND SUBORDINATE OFFICERS OR [an election clerk and such 
other] employees as the Commission may appoint.


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The Commission may delegate its powers and functions or order the
2 
implementation or enforcement of its orders, rulings, or decisions
3 
through the heads of its field offices."
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SEC. 4. A new Section 53-A is hereby inserted in Article VII of B.P. Big. 881,
5 
otherwise known as the "Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines", as amended, to
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read as follows:
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"SECTION 53-A. AUTOMATIC CREATION OF POSITIONS OF
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ELECTION OFFICERS. - WHENEVER NEW CITIES OR
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MUNICIPALITIES ARE CREATED, THERE SHALL ALSO BE
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AUTOMATICALLY CREATED FOR THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY,
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POSITIONS OF ELECTION OFFICERS AND ELECTION
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ASSISTANTS IN SUCH NUMBER AS DETERMINED PURSUANT
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TO THE RATIO ESTABLISHED IN THE SUCCEEDING SECTION."
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SEC. 5. A new Section 53-B is hereby inserted in Article VII of B.P. Big. 881,
15 
otherwise known as the "Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines", as amended, to
16 
read as follows:
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"SECTION 53-B. RATIO OF ELECTION ASSISTANTS TO
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REGISTERED VOTERS. - THERE SHALL BE A CORRESPONDING
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NUMBER OF ELECTION ASSISTANT POSITIONS AT THE RATIO
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OF ONE (1) ELECTION ASSISTANT FOR EVERY TWENTY
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THOUSAND (20,000) REGISTERED VOTERS."
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SEC. 6. A new Section 53-C is hereby inserted in Article VII of B.P. Big. 881,
23 
otherwise known as the "Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines", as amended, to
24 
read as follows:
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"SECTION 53-C. NO PERSONNEL, EXCEPT THOSE MENTIONED
26 
IN SECTION 53 HEREOF OR OTHER COMELEC PERSONNEL


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EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED BY THE COMMISSION, SHALL BE 
ASSIGNED, DESIGNATED, ENGAGED, OR DETAILED AT THE 
COMMISSION'S FIELD OFFICES. ANY PERSON WHO CAUSES 
THE ASSIGNMENT, DESIGNATION, ENGAGEMENT, OR DETAIL 
OF ANY PERSONNEL AT THE COMMISSION'S FIELD OFFICES 
IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE GUILTY OF AN 
ELECTION OFFENSE AND SHALL BE PUNISHED UNDER 
SECTIONS 263 AND 264 OF THE OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE."
9 
SEC. 7. Section 55, Article VII, of Bates Pambansa Big. 881, otherwise known
10 
as the "Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines", as amended, is hereby amended
11 
to read as follows:
12 
"SECTION 55. Office space. - [The local government concerned shall
13 
provide a suitable place for the office of the provincial-cleetien
14 
supervisor and his staff and the election registrar and his staff:
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Provided, That in case of failure of the local government concerned to
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provide such suitable place, the provincial election supervisor or the
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election registrar, as the case-may be, upon- prior authority of the
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Commission and notice to the local government concerned, may-lease
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anothepplace for office and the rentals thereof shall be chargeable to
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the funds of the local government concerned] THE COMMISSION
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ON ELECTIONS SHALL PROVIDE AN ACCESSIBLE, SEPARATE,
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AND INDEPENDENT OFFICE FOR ITS FIELD OFFICERS AND
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THEIR STAFF."
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SEC. 8. Transitory Provision. - Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this
25 
Act, the Commission shall formulate a plan for the transfer of all of its field offices
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from the facilities provided by local government units to the facilities owned or leased
27 
by the Commission. The local government unit concerned shall continue to provide an
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accessible place for the office of the provincial election supervisor and his staff and
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the election officer and his staff until such time that the Commission on Elections has


1 
provided the field office concerned with its own office, which in no case shall exceed
2 
five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act.
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SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months from the
4 
effectivity of this Act, the Commission on Elections and the Department of Budget and
5 
Management shall adopt and issue the necessary rules and regulations for the
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effective implementation of this Act.
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SEC. 10. Appropriation. -The amount necessary for the implementation of this
8 
Act shall be included In the annual General Appropriations Act.
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SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, acts, presidential decrees,
10 
executive orders, issuances, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts
11 
thereof, which are contrary to and inconsistent with any provision of this Act, are
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hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 12. Separability Clause. -If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
14 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall
15 
remain in force and effect.
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SEC. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect Immediately following the
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completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of
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general circulation.
Approved,


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS
Intramuros, Manila
General Services Division
=sgy~THfe.
MEMORANDUM
For
DIR. ELAIZA S. SABILE-DAVID
Protocol and Liaison Office
Subject
Date
Revised Cost Estimates for COMELEC Field Offices
June 30, 2023
This is to respectfully submitting the revised cost estimates for the transfer a 
construction/rental of COMELEC Field Offices in compliance to the request or tn 
Senate Committee on Electoral Reform and People's Participation, to wit:
Particulars
Cost Estimate (Php)
Remarks
Construction of COMELEC 
Field Offices {please see 
attached Work and Financial 
Plan for the Construction of 
COMELEC Field Office 
Buildings)
18,904,320,477.84
5-year construction plan
Rental for 1-year period
Main Office 
176,216,105.80
based on the COMELEC
Existing 
Lease 
of
Contracts for Renewal for 
2023)
Field Office- 
1,903,800,000.00
please 
see 
the
computation below
Transfer
Main Office- 
675,000.00
Main Office - 7,500.00 per 
day X 90 days
Field Office- 
47,439,000.00
1,757 Comelec Field 
Offices X 1,800.00 per day
X 15 days
TOTAL AMOUNT
21,032,450,583.64
Rental for 1-year period
Office/Station
No. of 
Office
Minimum 
Proposed 
Office Floor 
Area (Sqm)
Estimated Cost 
of Rental @ 
Php500.00 per 
Sqm. (Php)
Total Estimated 
Cost of Rental 
per Year (Php)
Municipal
Election Officer
1,489
150
111,675,000.00
1,340,100,000.00
City 
Election
Officer
171
250
21,375,000.00
256,500,000.00
is


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Provincial
Election
SuperviRnr
Regional
Election
Director (I
* Qtal Amount
H^b,000.00 
172^200^00.00
11,250,000.00 
135,000,000.00
iQna.800.000.00
For information and appropriate action. 
Thank you.
Noted
3. THADDEtt&dpiBfmAN
DirectoflV^\
ministrative Services D^l^rnent
eopisto E. Elnas, Jr.
Cc: Executive Direi
lUNDO
Chief Adnrfhistrative Officer 
General Services Division, ASD