FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
10 JUl21 P4 :43 
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fH,G,'\Vrn BY >L:::::: .... ".-,_ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Political signs will start cropping up like mushrooms pretty soon, as another 
nationwide election approaches. 
Candidates for public office uniformly define themselves as law-abiding citizens 
with the public good at heart. However, virtually every candidate allow or encourage 
their campaign workers to violate the law by posting hundreds of signs in the public 
right-of-way in the medians of major roads. 
Incumbents vying for re-election and candidates presently occupying Government 
positions often use government funds and resources to bolster their election campaign. 
This creates an unfair advantage to the other candidates that do not have such resources at 
their disposal. 
The political signs on private property, homes and businesses, are part of good 
political discourse. However, the act of erecting in· Government property political signs 
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by candidates who have access to them should be considered illegal so as to level the 
playing field for all aspiring candidates. 
The proposed measure seeks to prohibit the posting of political SignS on 
Government property. This measure also provides for restrictions and guidelines on the 
posting of political signs in different places in order to attain a fair election.! 
I This bill was originally filed in the third regular session of the 141h Congress. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 1784 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
10 JUL21 P4:.t3 
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TO PROHIBIT THE POSTING OF POLITICAL SIGNS ON GOVERNMENT 
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. PROPERTY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act may be known as the "Anti-Political Signs on 
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Government Property Act. " 
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SECTION 2. Definitions. - The following terms as used in this Act shall have the 
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following meaning: 
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(a) Candidate - shall mean l\ person seeking public office. 
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(b) Government property - shall mean any tangible or real property held by the 
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government of the Philippines including any government owned easement 
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or highway. 
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(c) Organization - shall mean any political organization or political action group 
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advocating an issue in a special or general election. 
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(4) Political sign - shall mean all billboards, posters, banners or displays which 
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advocate a candidate for political office or any matter to be presented to 
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the electorate for vote. 
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(5) Utility pole - shall mean any pole erected for street lighting, power lines, and 
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cable television lines. 
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SECTION 3. Prohibition of Political Signs - Candidates for public office or other 
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persons having an interest in an election shall not place political signs which advocate 
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voting for or against candidates, or other matters to be considered by the electorate, on 
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government properiy. 
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SECTION 4. Restrictions on Posting o/Political Signs.-
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(I) No political sign may be erected or posted upon the shoulder of any roadway 
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(2) No political sign may be erected upon, on or within any government building, 
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or property, or nailed to any tree or attached to any fence on government 
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property. 
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(3) No political sign may be erected or posted within one hundred (100) feet of 
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any entrance to a public school, or upon any public school property, 
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including school fences and gates. 
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(4) No political sign may be posted upon any utility pole, 
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(5) No political signs may be posted upon any public park within the jurisdiction 
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of the Department of Public Works and Highways, or the City or 
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Municipality Mayors, 
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(6) No political sign may be erected or posted within one hundred (100) feet of 
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any intersection. 
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SECTION 5, Removal of Signs. -Any sign in violation of any of the provisions of 
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this Act shall be removed within forty-eight (48) hours by the candidate or organization 
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after notification by the Department of Public Works and Highways or City or 
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Municipality Mayor in which the sign is located. 
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A sign not removed within forty-eight hours of notification shall be removed 
, 
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immediately by the Department of Public Works and Highways or the City or 
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Municipality Mayor. 
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SECTION 6. Penalties. - Any candidate pursuant to the definition of this Act 
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who shall authorize, order or perform any of the acts or practices constituting in whole or 
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in part a violation of Sections 3, 4, and 5 of this Act, shall upon conviction, be subject to 
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a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (PlOO,OOO.OO) but not more than 
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Five Hundred Thousand pesos (P500,000.00) and imprisonment of not less than six (6) 
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months but not more than one (3) years, or both upon the discretion of the court, 
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In addition to the penalties 'provided in the preceding paragraph, the candidate 
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shall also suffer the penalty of special temporary disqualification. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held 
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invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
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or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (\5) days 
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after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
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