Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo.___-139

Introduced by: HON. SALVIO B. FORTUNO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This is an offering of peace and budgetary savings to the newly elected President
of the Republic of Philippines, His Excellency President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III:
Resetting the synchronized barangay and sanggunians kabataan elections.

The Filipino people had just witnessed the first ever automated national and local
elections in the country last May 10, 2010, However, after barely five (5) months from
the said political exercise, we will be holding ‘the synchronized barangay and
sangguniang kabataan elections even when the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)
officials and employees, teachers, members of civic and religious organizations, who
were directly involved in the election activities had barely warmed their seats and the
sore losers have yet to accept their fate gracefully.

‘The election of barangay and sangguniang kabataan is supposed to be a non-
partisan political activity. Yet, our experience in so many past elections has shown time
and again that barangay elections cannot be totally insulated from the undue influence of
partisan politics. Thus, it has caused divisiveness and has its share of some deplorable
practices that trigger instances of violence among political leaders and supporters.

It is therefore the paramount objective of this important piece of legislation to
reset the synchronized barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections scheduled to be held
on the last Monday of October 2010 to the last Monday of October 2011. This will
definitely allow the Filipino people to take a longer pause before immersing themselves
again into another political battle that will certainly disturb the peaceful condition at the
local level. It will also generate ‘savings for the cash-strapped government of around
Three Billion Pesos (P3 Billion) according to the cost estimate made by the COMELEC.

The foregoing reasons warrant the immediate approval of this bill.

HON. SALVIO B, FORTUNO
»presentative
Fifth Pistrict, Camarines Sur


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session, 4 g

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by: HON. SALVIO B. FORTUNO

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT No. 9164, AS AMENDED, RESETTING THE
BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIAN KABATAAN ELECTIONS, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of
the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 9164, as amended, is hereby further
amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 1. Date of Election. ~ There shall be synchronized
barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections which shall be held on THE
LAST MONDAY OF OCTOBER 2011 {July 15, 2002]. Subsequent
synchronized barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections shall be held
on the last Monday of October [2007] and every three years (3) years
thereafter.”

SEC. 2. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9164, as amended, is hereby
further amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 4. Assumption of Office. ~ The term of office of the
barangay and sangguniang kabataan officials elected funder this Act shall
commence on August 15, 2002, next following their elections. The term of
office of the barangay and sangguniang kabataan officials elected] in the
October 2011 [2007] election and subsequent elections shail commence at
noon of November 30 next following their election.”

SEC. 3. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 9164, as amended, regarding the
hold over capacity of all incumbent barangay and sangguniang kabataan officials
shall remain in full force and effect.


SEC. 4. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation
of this Act shall be taken from the appropriations of the Commission on Elections
(COMELEC) under the General Appropriations Act of the year following its
enactment into law and thereafter.

‘The funds mentioned above may be augmented by an amount not
exceeding ten percent (10%) of the sangguniang kabataan funds reserved pursuant
to Section $32 (c) of Republic Act No. 7160 as amended, otherwise known as the
Local Government Code of 1991.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~The COMELEC shall
issue the rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, and
rules an regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act,
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason, any section or provision
of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions
hereof shall not be affected and thereby remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its complete publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,