Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No.853.0
Introduced by HON. JOSEFINA B. TALLADO

AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9006 ALSO KNOWN AS THE FAIR ELECTIONS ACT TO
INCLUDE STATIC AND LED BILLBOARDS AND OTHER OUTDOOR ADVERTISING MEDIA AS
LAWFUL ELECTION PROPAGANADA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A cursory reading of Section 3 of RA 9006 or the Fair Elections Act would show that television,
radio, print and other medium are categorically allowed as lawful election propaganda. However, there
appears to be confusion on whether or not static or LED billboards can be used as they are not expressly
mentioned by the said Act It can be observed though that many political candidates, parties and
supporters have utilized billboards during the last election to advance their election campaign but many
candidates also failed to do so because they are not certain about its use.

It is beyond cavil that static and LED billboards have a significant visual impact and can
effectively convey messages to a wide audience. By utilizing billboards during campaign periods, political
candidates, parties and even supporters can maximize their reach and visibility, particularly in high-traffic
areas and densely populated regions. This medium allows them to present their campaign messages in
a clear, concise, and visually appealing manner, thereby capturing the attention of potential voters at a
very reasonable cost as opposed to television or radio advertisements.

By establishing clear legislative guidelines and regulations for billboard usage during campaign
periods, electoral authorities can ensure fair allocation of spaces among competing candidates,
preventing any undue advantage for well-funded or influential individuals or parties. This promotes a level
playing field and enhances democratic principles by allowing a diverse range of voices to be heard.

Considering the efficacy of the use of outdoor advertising media, it is high time to amend the Fair
Elections Act to include static and LED Billboards as lawful election propaganda. This amendatory act is
necessary to quiet all doubts on the legislative intent to allow use of billboards, either static or LED.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this billis earnestly sought.

HON. hin B. TALLADO
1 District, Camarines Norte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

8530

House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. JOSEFINA B. TALLADO

AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9006 ALSO KNOWN AS THE FAIR
ELECTIONS ACT TO INCLUDE STATIC AND LED BILLBOARDS AND OTHER
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING MEDIA AS LAWFUL ELECTION PROPAGANADA

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

SECTION 1. Section 3 of RA 9006, as amended, also known as the Fair Elections Act, is hereby
amended to read as follows:
“Sec. 3. Lawful Election Propaganda. - Election propaganda whether on
sable television, radio, newspapers or any other medium, INCLUDING
R_ STA’ AND LED BILLBOAR! TRANSIT
‘ADVERTISEMENT, is hereby allowed for all registered political parties, national, regional,
sectoral parties or organizations participating under the party-list elections and for all bona
fide candidates seeking national and local elective positions subject to the lamination on
authorized expenses of the candidates and political parties, observance of truth in
advertising and to the supervision and regulation by the Commission on Elections
(COMELEC)”

For the purpose of this Act, lawful election propaganda shal include:

televisio

34 Pamphlets, leaflets, cards, decals, stickers or other written or printed
materials the size of which does not exceed eight and one-half inches in
width and fourteen inches in length;

32 Handwritten or printed letters urging voters to vote for or against any
particular political party or candidate for public office;


correct name and address of the candidate or party for whose benefit the election propaganda
was printed or aired.

4.2. If the broadcast is given free of charge by the radio or television station, it shall be identified
by the words “airtime for this broadcast was provided free of charge by" followed by the true and
correct name and address of the broadcast entity.

4.3. Print, broadcast or outdoor advertisements donated to the candidate or political party shall
not be printed, published, broadcast, or exhibited without the written acceptance by the said
candidate or political party. Such written acceptance shall be attached to the advertising contract
and shall be submitted to the COMELEC as provided in Subsection 6.3. hereof.

SECTION 3. Section 6 of RA 9006 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 6. Equal Access to Media Time and Space. - All registered parties and bona fide
candidates shall have equal access to media time and space. The following guidelines may be
amplified on by the COMELEC.

6.1. Print advertisements shall not exceed one-fourth (1/4) page, in broad sheet and one-half
(1/2) page in tabloids thrice a week per newspaper, magazine or other publications, during the
campaign period.

6.2. (a) Each bona fide candidate or registered political party for a nationally elective office shall
be entitled to not more than one hundred twenty (120) minutes of television advertisement and
cone hundred eighty (180) minutes of radio advertisement whether by purchase or donation.

(b) Each bona fide candidate or registered political party for a locally elective office shall be
entited to not more than sixty (60) minutes of television advertisement and ninety (90) minutes
of radio advertisement whether by purchase or donation.

{c) Each bona fide sancldate or enistared poliica party for a nationally elective office
in TH

static or ill whe hi

tac or CED bilboarde wheter by purchase or dona, provided that». canidats or
registered political party cannot have outdoor advertisement within a radius of one (1)
kilom: r each static or LED billboard.

(d) Each bona fide candids lt shall
one (1) month of outdoor advertisements in ‘either static or LED billboards whether bY

thase or donation, provided that a local candid: litical not
have outdoor in i five hi mndred meters for each static
or LED billboard.

bona fi i i ition mi
il rt advertisements _in_publi

dimension_of is nsis with the guideline the Lans

Tran: ion Franchi: IF n transit tisements.


For this purpose, the COMELEC shall require any broadcast station or enfty to submit to the
COMELEC a copy of its broadcast logs and certificates of performance for the review and
verification of the frequency, date, time and duration of advertisements broadcast for any
candidate or poltical party. The COMELEC shall likewise require any outdoor company or

‘submit to the COMELE ni for n in
review_and verification _of the frequency, date, time and duration of outdoor

advertisements for any candidate or political party.

SECTION 4. The Commission on Election shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and
regulations within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act.

‘SECTION 5. All laws, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

‘SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a
newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.