Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILL No. 1354

Introduced by Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to postpone and/or reset the forthcoming barangay elections from its originally
reset-schedule of second Monday of 2020 to the second Monday of 2023,

Section 2, Article V of the 1987 Constitution provides that Congress shall provide a system
for securing the secrecy and sanctity of the ballot. Notably, under Sections 42 and 43 of
Republic Act No. 7160, also known as the Local Government Code, elections for local
officials shall be held every three (3) years on the second Monday of May, and the term of
office of all local elective officials elected after the effectivity of this Code shall be three (3)
years, starting from noon of June 30, 1992 or such date as may be provided for by law,
except that of elective barangay officials.

Barangay officials are at the forefront of government service and are important figureheads
in the community. In light of their importance to the community, the planned barangay
elections must be properly conducted in order to give the electorate the best opportunity to
exercise their right of suffrage.

The next Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections will be held on the second Monday of
2022. It is already common knowledge that elections are very expensive exercises, usually
entailing billions of pesos to conduct.

It is also worth noting that one of the legislative priorities of the President is to enact a new
Federal Constitution of the Philippines. Holding the barangay elections in May 2020 and then
conducting a separate election for a Constitutional-Convention delegates afterwards will
easily double the cost to public coffers. The billions of pesos that can be saved by reason of
postponing the barangay elections and holding it simultaneously with the Constitutional-
Convention elections can be used instead for other government projects like construction of
roads, bridges, school buildings and other urgent endeavors.

The barangay, being the basic unit of our country's socio-political structure, was designed to
be beyond the influence of partisan politics. In fact, the Honorable Supreme Court has
clearly pronounced that “it would definitely enhance the objective and impartial discharge of
their duties for barangay officials to be shielded from political loyalty" (Occena v. COMELEC,
GR. L-60258, January 1984)

In preparation for a heavily-contested Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections in May
2022, the proposed postponement would in effect give an extension of an additional three
(3) years of our incumbent barangay officials. This will give ample time for those barangay
and sangguniang kabataan officials to properly implement their plans and projects without
having to concentrate expenditures while our country is deliberating on the new Federal
Constitution.


In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly spuet

Moons


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bit no. 1354

Introduced by Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo

AN ACT
POSTPONING THE MAY 2020 BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG ELECTIONS TO MAY
2023, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9164, AS AMENDED BY
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9340, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10656, AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10923,
PRESCRIBING ADDITIONAL RULES GOVERNING THE CONDUCT OF BARANGAY
AND SANGGUNIANG 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 by Republic Act No. 9340,
Republic Act No. 10656, and Republic Act No. 10923, is hereby further amended to read as
follows:

“SECTION 1. Date of Election. — There shall be a synchronized barangay and
kabataan elections, which shall be held on the last Monday of October 2007 and every three
(3) years thereafter: Provided, That the barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections on
October 31, 2016 shall be postponed to the fourth Monday of October 2017. Subsequent
synchronized barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections shall be held on the second
Monday of May 2023 [2020] and every three (3) years thereafter.”

SEC. 2. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9164, as amended by Republic Act No. 9340 and
Republic Act No. 10923, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 4. Assumption of Office. - The term of office of the barangay and
sangguniang kabataan officials elected under this Act shall commence at noon on November
30 next following their election: Provided, however, That the term of office of the barangay
and sangguniang Kabataan officials elected in the May 2023 [2020] elections and
subsequently thereafter, shall commence at noon of June 30 next following their election.”

SEC. 3. Hold Over. - Until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified, all
incumbent barangay officials shall remain in office, unless sooner removed and suspended
for cause.

‘SEC. 4. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 6679 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 3. Ban on Government Projects. - The construction or maintenance of
barangay-funded roads and bridges shall be prohibited for a period of ten (10) days
immediately preceding the date of election, the provisions of Section 261, paragraphs (v)
and (w), of the Omnibus Election Code to the contrary notwithstanding.”


SEC. 5. Prohibition on Appointments of Government Officials and Employees. — The
appointment or hiring of new employees, creation of new position, promotion, or giving of
salary increases, remuneration or privileges in the barangay shall be prohibited for a period
of ten (10) days immediately preceding the election, the provisions of Section: 261,
paragraph (g), of the Omnibus Election Code to the contrary notwithstanding,

SEC. 6. Use of Appropriations. — Appropriations for the Commission on Elections
(COMELEC) shall be considered as continuing appropriations and shall be used exclusively
for the conduct of the barangay and sangguniang kabataan registration and elections.

SEC. 7. Use of Sangguniang Kabataan Fund. — Until the new sangguniang kabataan
officials shall have been duly elected and qualified, the sangguniang barangay shall not use
the sangguniang kabataan fund except for youth development and empowerment programs
as provided for in Republic Act No. 10742, otherwise known as “The Sangguniang Kabataan
Reform Act of 2015”

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The COMELEC shall, within ninety (90)
days after the effectivity of this Act, promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to
implement this Act.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is declared unconstitutional, the
remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This measure seeks to honor and praise Filipino senior citizens by providing them
monetary incentives in the amount of Eighty thousand pesos upon their 80" birthday
This act recognizes the veritable contributions of our elderly to nation building A
community that cares for its elderly is one that is dynamic and abounding in
blessings inasmuch as it has found favor from the Providence who mandates for
every one to “stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man.” It
sure is wise to give back to the ones who have offered so much and dedicated their
lives’ work not only for the benefit of their loved ones, but practically, for the general
welfare of the community.

If only to acknowledge their significant moral and economic contributions, this apt
measure should be considered.

Hence, the immediate passage of this measure is sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo

AN ACT
HONORING FILIPINO SENIOR CITIZENS THEREBY GRANTING THEM EIGHTY
THOUSAND PESOS ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR 80™ BIRTHDAY

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

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “80™ Birthday Gift Act.”

SEC. 2. Under this Act, senior citizen is hereby entitled to Eighty Thousand Pesos
cash gift on his or her 80” birthday.

SEC. 3. Within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, The Quezon City
Government shall issue appropriate rules and regulations to effectively carry out the
provisions of this Act.

SEC. 4. All issuances, laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof
not consistent with this Act are hereby repealed accordingly.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,