NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
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23 OCT "4 P3 54
SENATE 
S. No. 24fi0
Introduced by Senator MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
AN ACT
INCREASING THE AUTHORIZED CAMPAIGN EXPENSES OF CANDIDATES 
AND POLITICAL PARTIES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 13 OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7166, ENTITLED, "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR 
SYNCHRONIZED NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS AND FOR OTHER 
ELECTORAL REFORMS, AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATIONS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This proposed legislation aims to address the need for an adjustment in 
aliowable campaign expenses to reflect the effects of inflation on the costs associated 
with electoral campaigns, and to empower the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) 
to periodicaliy update these iimits in response to changing economic conditions.
Republic Act No. 7166, otherwise known as the "Synchronized National and 
Local Elections and for Eiectoral Reforms Act of 1991," currentiy governs the aliowabie 
campaign expenses for candidates participating in Phiiippine elections. Under the 
existing iaw, aliowable campaign expenses are set at ievels that were appropriate 
when the iaw was enacted but have since become outdated due to the natural 
progression of inflation.
The primary objective of this biii is to adjust the ailowabie campaign expenses 
in Republic Act No. 7166 to account for inflation. Over the years, the purchasing power 
of the Phiiippine peso has diminished, leading to an increase in the cost of various 
campaign-related activities, including advertising, transportation, and campaign


materials. By updating these allowable expenses, we aim to make the campaign 
budget more realistic and reflective of the prevailing prices of goods and services.
Outdated allowable campaign expenses may inadvertently encourage 
candidates and political parties to underreport their actual campaign expenditures. 
This can undermine the transparency and accountability of the electoral process. By 
adjusting the allowable expenses to align with current economic realities, we intend 
to minimize, if not eliminate, any motivation to falsify campaign expenditure reports.
In addition to adjusting the allowable campaign expenses in the short term, 
this bill also empowers COMELEC to regularly review and adjust these limits in 
response to inflation. By granting COMELEC the authority to make these adjustments, 
we ensure that campaign expenditure limits remain relevant and effective in promoting 
transparency and fairness in elections.
This bill seeks to address the pressing need for an adjustment in allowable 
campaign expenses to account for inflation and to empower COMELEC to regularly 
update these limits based on economic conditions. This legislation will contribute to 
more transparent and accountable electoral processes, aligning campaign expenses 
with prevailing economic realities, and ultimately strengthening the democratic 
foundations of our nation.
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is sought.
lANUEL "LITO" M.
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 2460
'v .'.J,oli;.’
23 OCT-4 P3S4
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
1 
AN ACT
2 
INCREASING THE AUTHORIZED CAMPAIGN EXPENSES OF CANDIDATES
3 
AND POLITICAL PARTIES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 13 OF
4 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7166, ENTITLED, "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR
5 
SYNCHRONIZED NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS AND FOR OTHER
6 
ELECTORAL REFORMS, AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATIONS THEREFOR, AND
7 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES"
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
8 
SECTION 1. Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7166 is hereby amended to read as
9 
follows:
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"SEC. 13. Authorized Expenses of Candidates and Political 
Parties. - The aggregate amount that a candidate or registered 
political party may spend for election campaign shall be as follows:
(a) For candidates - [Ten] FIFTY pesos [(PIO.OO)]
(P50.00) for President and FORTY PESOS (P40.00) FOR Vice- 
President; and [for other candidates. Three pesos (P3.00]] THIRTY 
PESOS (P30.00) FOR SENATOR, DISTRICT 
REPRESENTATIVE, GOVERNOR, VICE-GOVERNOR, BOARD 
MEMBER, MAYOR, VICE-MAYOR, COUNCILOR, AND PARTY- 
LIST REPRESENTATIVE for every voter currently registered in 
the constituency where [he] THE CANDIDATE filed [his] THE


1 
Certificate of candidacy[: Provided, That, a candidate without any
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political party and without support from any political party may be
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allowed to spend Five Pesos [P5.00) for every such voter]; and
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(b) For political parties - [Five] THIRTY pesos [[P5.00)]
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(P30.00) for every voter currently registered in the constituency
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or constituencies where it has official candidates.
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"Any provision of the law to the contrary notwithstanding,
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any contribution in cash or in kind to any candidate or political party
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or coalition of parties for campaign purposes, duly reported to the
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Commission, shall not be subject to the payment of any [gift]
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DONOR'S tax."
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SEC. 2. A new Section 13-A shall be inserted after Section 13 of Republic Act
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No. 7166 to read as follows:
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SEC. 13-A. AUTHORITY TO ADJUST ALLOWABLE
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EXPENSES. - THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS SHALL, IN
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CONSULTATION WITH THE BANGKO SENTRAL NG
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PILIPINAS, THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND
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DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND THE PHILIPPINE
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STATISTICS AUTHORITY, MAKE THE NECESSARY
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ADJUSTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF AUTHORIZED
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CAMPAIGN EXPENSES PER REGISTERED VOTER AS
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PROVIDED IN THE PREVIOUS SECTION OF THIS ACT BASED
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ON THE ENSUING NATIONAL INFLATION RATE AND
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CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.
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SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Commission on Elections
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shall, within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act, promulgate such rules
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and regulations necessary to implement this Act.
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SEC. 4. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of this
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Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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SEC. 5. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is heid invaiid
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or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and
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effect.
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SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, issuances, decrees, rules,
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and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed
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amended, modified, or repealed accordingly.
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SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
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Approved,