FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 2578

EXPLANATORY NOTE
This bill seeks to provide for an automated general registration of voters.

‘An automated general registration will help the Commission on Elections to
nullify all existing registrations, purge the padded old voters’ list and come up with
a new computerized certified voters’ list that is free from double or multiple
registrants in order to ensure an honest, clean and credible election in May 2010
and subsequent elections, plebiscite or referenda

While the system of the continuing registration of voters under Republic Act
No. 8189, otherwise known as the Voter's Registration Act of 1996, serves as a
mechanism for which qualified individuals can register as voters, there is growing
apprehension that the present list of registered voters is padded with double or
multiple registrants, names of dead voters, names of minors and voters who have
gone abroad.

Hence, it is proposed that the continuing registration be suspended in order
to give way to an automated general registration through the use of biometrics
technologies such as, but not limited to, data capturing machines.

With this proposed measure, it is hoped that cheating during electoral
exercises would be a thing of the past.

In view of the foregoing, early approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
C

RUFYS B. RODRIGUEZ

wal breve JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 2578

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR AN AUTOMOATED GENERAL REGISTRATION OF VOTERS
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOFRE

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as “The Voter's
Automated General Registration Act of 2010.”

SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

a) “Automated Registration’ refers to the act of
accomplishing and filing of a swom application for registration by a
qualified voter before the election officer in the city or municipality
where the voter resides through the use of biometric technologies
such as data capturing machines (DCMs);

b) “Biometric Technology’ refers to the electronic recording
of the applicant's photograph, fingerprints lifted from the right index,
left index, right thumb and left thumb using fingerprint recognition
technology and signature for purposes of registration through the
use of the data capturing machine (DCM);

(©) “Data Capturing Machine’ refers to the modem device
used to encode and capture the biometrics and demographics data
of the applicant for registration;

(d) “Demographics Data’ refers to the applicant's name,
surname, middie name and matemal name; address; sex: date and
place of birth; citizenship; civil status; profession; period of residence
in the Philippines and in the place of registration; statement that the
applicant possesses all the qualifications of a voter, statement that
the applicant is not a registered voter of any precinct and such other
information or data as may be required by the Commission on
Elections;



(e) “Biometric Data’ refers to the applicant's photograph,
fingerprints lifted from the right index, left index, right thumb and left
thumb using fingerprint recognition technology and signature which
are recorded through the use of the biometric technologies such as,
but not limited to, data capturing machines; and

() “Election Officer’ (EO) refers to the highest official or
authorized representative of the Commission on Elections in a city or
municipality.

SEC. 3. Automated General Registration. — There shall be at least one
(1) data capturing machine (DCM) in every office of the city or municipal election
officer which shall receive and process all applications for registration of voters,
including transfers of registration records to another district or city or municipality
or precinct, reactivation, and changes or corrections of entries in the registration
records. The application shall be personally filed at the Office of the Election
Officer (QEO) of the city or municipality where the applicant resides from 8:00
o'clock a.m. to 5:00 o'clock p.m., and heard by the Election Registration Board
(ERB) at the CEO, in accordance with the provisions of Section 17 of Republic Act
(RA) No. 8189.

The following are the schedules:

Pariod of File ] Posting of Notice | Period to File | Hearing and ] Registration
Applications for | of Hearing and | Opposition to | Approval or | Period for
Registration of | Lists of | Applications | ieaeerovat of | Applicants in
Voters Applicants Applications | case. DCMs
| | become
| | | Defective and
‘Analogous
- _ Cases
June 25-26; 28- | July 75-14, 2009] July 16-17, 2009 | July 23-24, 28- | July 8, 2009 or
30, 2009 | 31. 2009 | as determined by
| the COMELEC.

The Election Officers (Eos) shall adopt a system of processing applications
for registration to speed up the registration process, minimize queuing and avoid
inconvenience.

SEC. 4. Who may Register. ~ Any Filipino citizen may register as a voter
for purposes of the May 10, 2010 elections and subsequent electoral exercises,
provided that the citizen possesses the following qualifications:

a) Atleast eighteen (18) years of age;

b) A resident of the Philippines for at least one (1) year and in the place
where the resident proposes to vote for at least six (6) months on or
before the day of the election; and

©) Not otherwise disqualified by law.

Provided, That applicant who has not yet attained the required age or
period of residence on the day of registration, but who, on the day of election shall
possess such qualifications, may register as a voter.



Provided, however, That Filipino citizens who may be able to vote by virtue
of RA 9189, otherwise known as “The Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003”
and RA 9225, otherwise known as “Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of
2003" shall not be deemed disqualified to register: Provided further, that they shall
do so in accordance with the said laws and their respective implementing rules
and regulations.

SEC. 5. Who are Disqualified to Register. - The following are disqualified
to register:

(a) Any person who has been sentenced by final judgment to suffer
imprisonment of not less than one (1) year, such disability not having been
removed by plenary pardon or amnesty;

(b) Any person who has been adjudged by final judgment of a
competent court or tribunal of having committed any crime involving
disloyalty to the duly constituted government, such as rebellion, sedition,
violation of the firearms laws, or any crime against national security; and

(c) Insane or incompetent person as declared by competent
authority unless subsequently declared by proper authority that such
person is no longer insane or incompetent.

Any person disqualified to register under paragraph (a) and (b) above shall
automatically reacquire the right to vote upon expiration of five (5) years after
service of sentence.

SEC. 6. Procedure for Filing of Applications for Registration. —

a) The applicants shall personally appear before the EO, state their names
and exact address, specifying the house numbers, names of the streets, areas,
districts, puroks or sitios, and barangays where they reside, or a brief description
of their residences, and present any of the following identification documents that
bears the applicant's photograph and signature, such as but not limited to, current
employee's identification card (ID), with the signature of the employer or
authorized representative; postal ID; student's ID or library card, signed by the
school authority; Senior Citizen's 1D; driver license; National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) or Philippine National Police (PNP) clearance; passport, Social
Security System (SSS) ID or Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) e-
Card Plus; Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) ID; and licenses issued by the
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

In the absence of any of the abovementioned identification documents, the
applicants may be identified under oath by any registered voter of the precinct, or
by way of their relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity
who are registered voters of the same city or municipality. No registered voter
shall be allowed to identify more than three (3) times.

Community tax certificates (cedula) or certificates or identification cards
issued by barangay officials shall not be honored as valid identification
documents.

If the applicants fail to establish their identifies by any of the
aforementioned methods, they shall not issued any application form.

b) The EO shall, using the barangay precinct map, verify whether or not the
addresses given by the applicants are located within the territorial boundary of any
of the precincts within the jurisdiction of the district or city or municipality.


If the applicants are not residents, the EO shall instruct the applicants to
proceed to the CEO of the district or city of municipality where the applicants
reside.

If the applicants reside within the territorial jurisdiction of the district or city
or municipality, the EO shall:

i. Inform the applicants of the qualifications and
disqualifications for registration;

ji, Determine the precinct where the applicants belong by
referring to the barangay precinct map. For this purpose, the
applicants shall be assigned temporarily to the mother precinct
comprising their residences. The precinct assignment shall be
finalized after the approval of the applications. Daughter precinct(s)
shall be created to accommodate approved applicants in excess of
the 200-voter per precinct limit.

In case of boundary dispute, the EO shall maintain the status
quo;

iii, Indicate the precinct assignment of the applicants at the
upper right-hand portion of the application form. No dummy or
default precinct assignment shall be allowed; and

iv. Issue the prescribed Application Form for Registration to
the applicants in two (2) copies.

¢) Upon receipt of the application forms, the applicants shall personally
accomplish the same separately in their own handwritings and submit the
accomplished application forms to the EO. Titles such as reverend, datu,
attorney, sultan, doctor, hadji, engineer, bai and other titles shall not be allowed.

d) For illegitimate children whose certificates of live birth do not include a
middle name, the character “ ” (underscore) may be used for the middle
name during the computer encoding of the data of the applicants. However, if a
middle or maternal name is indicated in the certificate of live birth of an illegitimate
person, the same may be used by such voter in the filing of the application for
registration and cases of correction of entries.

€) In case of applicants who do not know their birth date, the numbers 01-
01-1901 (default birthday) shall be used: Provided, That the EO can reasonably
ascertain that the applicant is of voting age through the physical features and
other relevant indicators such as year in college and number of children.

f) The EO shall ensure that the application has been filled up correctly,
completely and legibly; write down the Application Form Number, retum the forms
to the applicant; and direct the applicant to the DCM operator.

The Application Form Number shall consist of four parts. The first part
represents the two (2) digit province code, the second part stands for the two (2)
digit city or municipal code, the third part represents the two (2) digit Data


Capturing Machine (DCM) Number, and the fourth stands for the seven (7) digit
control code starting with 0000001 for the first applicant, 0000002 for the next
applicant and so on. The Information Technology Department (ITD) of the
Commission on Elections shall assign the DCM number.

4) The DCM operator shall proceed to capture the complete demographics
and biometrics data of the applicants, affix the initial below the space provided for
the EO’s signature in Part 2 of the prescribed application form and direct the latter
back to the EO. The absence of the DCM operator's initial shall be an indicator
that the applicant did not submit for biometrics data capture.

h) Upon receipt of the application forms, the EO shall:

. Administer the oath;

._ Affix the signature in the appropriate space on the forms;

. Retain the two (2) copies; and

. Cut the bottom portion of one (1) copy of the application forms
and give it to the applicant to serve as acknowledgment receipt
and proof of filing of the application.

BONS

SEC. 7. Applications sans Biometrics. - The application forms of
applicants who fail to submit for the live capture of their biometrics data or to take
the oath shall not be accepted and deemed not filed. As such, the applications
shall be disapproved for failure to complete the requirements.

In the event that the DCM allocated for a city or municipality becomes
defective or the biometrics data of the applicant cannot be captured within the
registration period due to the great volume of applicants, absence of electricity or
alternative power source and analogous cases, the EO shall receive the
application and inform the applicant when to return for data capture. The Eos and
their assistants are authorized to accomplish the data capture not later than July
8, 2009 or a date to be fixed by the Commission on Elections for the system of
continuing automated registration of voters. If the biometrics data capture cannot
be accomplished within the said period without fault on the part of the applicant,
the application shall be approved.

The Computerized Voters List (CVL) technicians shall certify to the fact of
DCM malfunction to be confirmed by the Provincial Election Supervisors, who
shall report the matter to be Information Technology Department (ITD) of the
Commission on Elections.

Further, in cases where any of the DCM peripherals become defective,
such that the registration procedures cannot be completed, the Provincial Election
Supervisors (PESs) shall be allowed to make the necessary arrangement with the
Eos under their jurisdiction to devise a scheduling system for the sharing of the
working DCM peripherals shall be replaced with working units. This sharing
mechanism shall be limited to two cities and municipalities

SEC. 8. Accomplishment of Application Forms of Illiterates or
Different-abled Applicants. — As used in this Section, differently-abled person
Shall refer to disabled person as defined by the Omnibus Election Code.

llliterates or differently-abled persons, may be assisted in the preparation of
their application forms by any relative within the fourth civil degree of


consanguinity or affinity, or if they have none, by persons who belong to their
respective households, or by the EO, or any member of an accredited citizens’
arm. In no case shall an assistor, except the EO, assist more than three (3) times.
All assistors must be of voting age.

The EO shall place the illiterate or differently-abled person under oath,
afterwhich the assistor shall ask the illiterate or differently-abled person questions,
and record the answers given in order to accomplish properly the application form.

Once the application form is accomplished, it shall be given to the EO who
shall, if necessary, read aloud to the person assisted the information written on
the accomplished form and ask that person if said information is true and correct.

The applicant shall, in presence of the EO, affix the thumbmark or some
other customary mark on the accomplished form

The assistor shall then accomplish in two (2) copies the certification or
attestation, which shall be attached to the accomplished application form.

SEC. 9. Challenge of Right to Register. — Any person applying for
registration may be challenged or opposed in writing and under oath before the
EO by any voter or representative of a registered political party or watcher in
accordance with the schedule provided in Section 4 hereof. The challenge of
opposition shall be attached to the application form together with the proof of
Notice of hearing to the applicant.

SEC. 10. Procedure for Filing of Application for Transfer of
Registration Records to another District or City or Municipality. ~ Registered
voters who have transferred residence to another district or city or municipality, at
least six (6) months before the May 10, 2010 election and subsequent electoral
exercises, may apply for transfer of their registration records by personally
appearing before the EO of their new residences

The EO shall verify from the National List of Registered Voters (NLRV) if
the applicant's name is included in said list. If the applicant's name is not included
in the NLRV, the EO shall verify if the applicant's name is included in the National
List of Deactivated Voters (NLDV).

For this purpose, the ITD shall provide all Eos with the updated soft copy of
the NLRV and the NLDV.

a) If the applicant's name is included in the National List of Registered
Voters or in the National List of Deactivated Voters -

The EO shall give the applicant two (2) copies of the prescribed Application
Form for Transfer or for Transfer with Reactivation. The applicant shall thereafter
accomplish said application form separately in two (2) copies subject to Section
12 hereof, and submit the same to the EO who shall cut the bottom portion of one
(1) copy of the application form and give it to the applicant to serve as
acknowledgment receipt and proof of fact of filing the application.

It is important that the EO shall check the box corresponding to the
appropriate type of application. In the assignment of precinct number and

AeprsOn Form Number, the EO shall follow the procedure provided in Section 7
ereof.


The DCM operator shall capture the demographic and biometric data of the
applicant. Thereafter, the DCM operator shail initial below the space provided for
the EO's signature in Part 2 of the application form.

The application for transfer of registration records to another district or city
or municipality shall be subject to the requirements of notice and hearing and the
action of the ERB. Upon approval of the application for transfer, and after notice of
such approval to the EO of the former residence of the voter, said EO shall
transmit, by registered mail, to the EO of the voter's new residence, the original
copy of the voter's registration record of the applicant. The EO of the voters
former residence shall also delete the name of the approved voter-transferee from
the voters’ list.

‘An applicant for transfer of registration records whose biometrics data have
not been previously captured shall accomplish both sides of the application form.

b) If the applicant's name is not included in the National List of Registered
Voters or in the National List of Deactivated Voters -

The EO shall first require the applicants to show proof of their registrations.
In this respect, a showing of their certifications from the EO of the former places of
registrations will suffice as evidence of previous registrations. Upon such showing
of proof, the EO shalll issue the application forms for transfer. A facsimile copy of
the proof shalll be attached to the application

In the absence of proof that the applicants are registered voters, the EO
shall advise the applicants that they may, if they so desire, file applications for
registration. The EO shall thereafter issue the prescribed Application Forms for
Registration to the applicants who shall accomplish said forms in accordance with
Section 7 hereof. In addition, the EO shall issue to the applicants certifications
stating that the applicants intended to apply for transfer but they were instead
advised to apply for original registrations, for want to proof that they are registered
voters of another district or city or municipality

The DCM operator shall capture the demographics and biometrics data of
the applicants.

SEC. 11 Procedure for Filing of Applications for Reactivation. -
Registered voters whose registration have been deactivated based on any of the
grounds provided under Section 27 of RA 8189, may request for the reactivation
Of their registration records by personally accomplishing separately in two (2)
copies the prescribed Application Form for Reactivation. After completion thereof,
the EO shall cut the bottom portion of one (1) copy of the application form and
give it to the applicants to serve as acknowledgment receipt and proof of fact of
filing their applications. The applicants shall be reinstated to the precincts where
they were previously assigned prior to deactivation.

The EO shall verify in the local database the record of the applicants using
the DCM utilities program

a. If the record has complete biometrics data, the EO shall use the old
application form number. After ERB approval, the applicant's record shall be
reactivated in the city or municipality local database.


b. If the record has incomplete biometrics data, the EO shall assign a new
application form number and direct the applicant to the DCM operator for
demographic and biometrics data capture. After ERB approval, the old record of
the applicant shall be reactivated and deleted afterwards from the city or
municipality local database.

In case of a request for transfer of registration record which has been
deactivated, application for transfer of registration record with reactivation may be
filed at the OEO of the voter's new residence by accomplishing an Application for
Transfer with Reactivation.

The processing of application and transmittal of the original Voters’
Registration Records (VRR), copy for the EO, shall be in accordance with Section
14 hereof,

SEC. 12. Procedure for Filing of Applications for Change of Name by
Reason of Marriage, or Court Order or Order by the Civil Registrar or Consul
General. — Registered voters whose names have been changed by reason of
marriage or court order or by order of the Civil Registrar or Consul General may
file applications for change of name by personally accomplishing two (2) copies of
the Application Form for Change of Name.

After completion thereof, the EO shall cut the bottom portion of one (1)
copy of the application form and give it to the applicants to serve as
acknowledgment receipt and proof of fact of filing the application. It is important
that the EO shall check the box corresponding to the appropriate type of
application.

In support of the application, the applicant shall submit a certification by the
marriage solemnizing officer (for Muslims) or a certified true copy of the marriage
contract or court order, or order by the Civil Registrar or Consul General, as the
case may be.

This may also be availed of in cases where the marriage of a female
registered voter has been annulled or declared a nullity by competent court, in
which case the affected voter who previously had registered using her husband's
sumame, may request to change her name, that is, to revert to the use of her
maiden name. To support her request, the applicant shall attach a certified true
copy of the court's final order or decision, annulling the marriage or declaring the
marriage a nullity.

The EO shall verify in the local database the record of the applicant, using
the DCM utilities program.

a) If the record has complete biometrics data, the EO shall use the old
application form number. After ERB approval, the change of name requested shall
be effected.

b) If the record has incomplete biometrics data, the EO shall assign a new
application form number and direct me applicant to the DCM operator for
demographics and biometrics data capture. After ERB approval, the old record of
the applicant shall be deleted from the city or municipality local database.

SEC. 13. Procedure for Filing of Application for Correction of Entry or
Entries in the Registration Records. — Registered voters whose registration


records contain erroneous entries, including wrong or misspelled name, birth date,
birth place or typographical errors, may request for their corrections. In support
thereof, they shall attach thereto the court order for the correction of an erroneous
entry or an order of the civil registrar for the correction of an erroneous entry, or
any evidence which warrants its correction.

The registered voters shall file applications for correction of entry or entries
in the registration record by personally accomplishing two (2) copies of the
Application Form for Correction of Entries. After completion thereof, the EO shall
retain the same, cut the bottom portion of one (1) copy of the application form and
give it to the applicants to serve as acknowledgment receipt and proof of fact of
filing their applications. It is important that the EO shall check the box
corresponding to the appropriate type of application.

The EO shall verify in the local database the record of the applicant, using
the DCM utilities program.

a) If the record has complete biometrics data, the EO shall use the old
application form number. After ERB approval, the EO shall correct the entry or
entries in the old record.

b) If the record has incomplete biometrics data, the EO shall assign a new
application form number and direct the applicant to the DCM operator for
demographics and biometrics data capture. After ERB approval, the old record of
the applicant shall be deleted from the city or municipality local database.

SEC. 14. Authority of EO to Administer Oath. — The EO is authorized to
administer oath for purposes of registration. No fee shall be charged for the
administration of the oath.

SEC. 15. Notice of Hearing of Applications. - Upon receipt of the
applications for registration of voters, the EO shall immediately set them for
hearing, notice of which shall be posted in the municipal or city bulletin board and
in the OEO in accordance with the schedule provided in Section 4 hereof,
furnishing copies thereof to the applicants, the heads or representatives of
registered political parties and other accredited groups or organizations in the city
or municipality.

SEC. 16. Approval or Disapproval of Applications. - The ERB of the city
or municipality shall, using the above-mentioned list, hear the applications and, by
majority vote, approve or disapprove the same in accordance with the schedule
provided in Section 4 hereof. Should one day be insufficient for the processing of
all accepted applications, the ERB shall meet daily until all applications shall have
been processed.

If the ERB disapproves the application, the applicant shall be furnished a
Certificate of disapproval starting the ground or grounds therefor.

After each meeting, the ERB shall prepare the minutes of the proceedings
which include, among others, the following:

a) Number of all applicants under consideration by the Board; and


b) List of applicants whose application for registration or transfer or
correction of entries or change of name was approved or disapproved
by the board indicating the application number opposite their names.

The EO shall, within seven (7) days from the last day of hearing of the
ERB, furnish copies thereof to the Election and Barangay Affairs Department of
the Commission on Elections and Regional Election Director for National Capital
Region or Provincial Election Supervisor of the Commission on Elections as well
as representatives of the dominant majority party and the dominant minority party.
The same shall also be posted in the bulletin board of the EO’s office.

In case of approval or disapproval, any aggrieved party may file a petition
for exclusion or inclusion with the proper municipal or municipal circuit or
metropolitan trial court or municipal trial court in cities.

SEC. 17. Publication of Action of the ERB on the Application for
Registration; Transfer of Registration Records to Another District or City or
Municipality; Reactivation of Registration; Change of Name; and Correction
of Entry or Entries, including Cancellation and Deactivation of Registration.
— Immediately within five (5) days from approval or disapproval of an application
for registration, the ERB shall post a notice in the bulletin boards of the municipal
or city hall and in the office of the EO, stating the names and addresses of the
applicants, the dates of the applications and the actions taken thereon. The EO
shall serve a copy of the notice either personally or by registered mail or special
delivery, to the local heads or representatives of registered political parties in the
city or municipality

SEC. 18. Cancellation of Registration Records. - The ERB shall cancel
the registration records and remove the names from the list of voters of those who
have died as certified by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR), on the dates scheduled
to ERB hearings in Section 4 hereof.

The EO shall post in the bulletin board of the OEO the names of those
whose registration records have been cancelled due to death, fumishing copies
thereof to the local heads of registered political parties, the surviving spouse, if
married and the father or mother, if single or if they have none, the nearest of kin.
The LCR shall submit each month of the EO a certified list of persons who died
during the previous month.

In case the deceased is not a resident of the place, the LCR shall notify the
EO of the city or municipality of the residence of the deceased as appearing in the
death certificate.

In addition, the swom declaration of any relative within the second degree
of consanguinity or affinity, who has personal knowledge of the death and identity
of the deceased, shall be considered and admitted as basis for cancellation of
names of deceased registered voters.

The EO shall furnish copies of this list to the National Central File Division,
Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor and ITD.

SEC. 19. Deactivation of Registration. — The ERB shall deactivated and
temporarily remove the registration records of the following persons from the
corresponding precinct book of voters and place the same, properly marked and


dated in indelible ink in the inactive file after entering therein the cause or causes
of deactivation.

a) Those who have been sentenced by final judgment to suffer
imprisonment of not less than one (1) year, such disability not having been
removed by plenary pardon or amnesty: Provided, That any such person
shall automatically reacquire the right to vote upon the expiration of five (5)
years after service of sentence as certified by the clerk of court of the
municipal or municipal circuit or municipal trial court in cities or metropolitan
or regional trial court or the Sandiganbayan;

b) Those who have been adjudged by final judgment of a competent
court or tribunal of having committed any crimes involving disloyalty to the
duly constituted government, such as rebellion, sedition, violation of the
firearms laws, or any crime against national security unless restored to their
full civil and political rights in accordance with law: Provided, That such
person shall automatically regain the right to vote upon the expiration of
five (5) years after service of sentence;

c) Those declared by competent authority to be insane or
incompetent;

d) Those who did not vote in the immediately preceding two (2)
successive regular elections as shown in the voting records;

e) Those ordered excluded from the list of voters by the court, and
f) Those who have lost their Filipino citizenship.

For this purpose, the clerk of court of the municipal or municipal circuit or
municipal trial court in cities or metropolitan or regional trial court or the
Sandiganbayan shall furnish the EO at the end of each month a certified list of
Persons with their addresses, who have lost their Filipino citizenship; were
declared insane or incompetent; have been sentenced by final judgment to suffer
imprisonment of not less than one (1) year, or have committed a crime involving
disloyalty to the duly constituted government.

SEC. 20. Disposition of Accomplished Applications for Registration,
Transfer of Registration Records, Reactivation, Change of Name, Correction
of Entry or Entries and the Compact Discs (CDs). —

a) At the close of each registration day, the EO shall:

1. Gather all accomplished application forms and compact discs
(CDs) from the DCM operator,

2. Compile all accomplished forms per barangay and by
precinct, arrange the application forms alphabetically by sumame;

3. Segregate the two (2) copies of applications in two (2) sets —
the first set, to remain with the EO for ERB action and the second set,


for weekly submission to the Office of the Regional Election Director
(ORED) for National Capital Region (NCR) or Provincial Election
Supervisor (OPES);

4. Generate a list of those who applied for registration or
transfer or registration for the day, using the DCM utilities program. Said
list shall be posted in the bulletin board of the city or municipality and in
the office of the EO;

5. Manually prepare a list of those who applied for change of
name or correction of entries;

6. Prepare a brief narrative regarding the occurrence of any
untoward incident during the day and the action taken thereon. For this
purpose, each EO shall keep a journal to write down any important
‘occurrence and incidents during the registration days; and

7. Store application forms, CDs, other forms and supplies in a
safe and secure place at the OEO.

'b) CDs that are not yet full or have not been finalized shall be retrieved for
use in the succeeding registration days;

¢) CDs shall be finalized at the close of office hours every Friday for
submission weekly to the ORED for NCR or OPES; and

d) The EO shall prepare a statistical report on accomplished application
forms and submit the same daily to the ORED for NCR or OPES.

SEC. 21. Role of the Regional Election Director for NCR or the
Provincial Election Supervisor. - The Regional Election Director for NCR or the
Provincial Election Supervisor shall:

a) Consolidate and submit to the ITD the CDs of the entire NCR or
province, by mail in areas outside NCR every end of the month;
b) Consolidate the statistical report on accomplished application forms;

c) Transmit weekly thru fax or mail the consolidated statistical report to:
i) Registration Division, Election and Barangay Affairs
Department (EBAD); and

li) Office of the Deputy Executive Director for Operations
(OBEDO).

SEC. 22. Petition for Inclusion of Voters in the List. - Persons whose
applications for registration have been disapproved by the ERB or whose names
have been stricken out from the list, may file with the proper municipal or
municipal circuit or municipal trial court in cities or metropolitan trial court petitions
to include their names in the permanent list of voters in their precinct at any time
but not later than July 30, 2009 and after the election period for the May 10, 2010


elections for the system of continuing automated registration of voters in
preparation for subsequent electoral exercises. It shall be supported by a
certificate of disapproval of their applications and proof of service of notice of their
petitions upon the ERB. The Court shalll render its decision within fifteen (15) days
after the filing of its petition.

If the decision is for the inclusion of the voter's names in the permanent list
of voters, the ERB shall place the applications for registration previously
disapproved in the corresponding book of voters and indicate in the applications
for registration the date of the order of inclusion and the court which issued the
same.

SEC. 23. Petition for Exclusion of Voters From the List. — Any
registered voter, representative of a political party or the EO, may file with the
proper municipal or municipal circuit or municipal trial court in cities or
metropolitan trial court a sworn petition for the exclusion of a voter from the
permanent list of voters giving the name, address and the precinct of the
challenged voter at any time but not later than August 7, 2009 and after the
election period for the May 10, 2010 elections for the system of continuing
automated registration in preparation for subsequent electoral exercises. The
petition shall be accompanied by proof of notice to the ERB and to the challenged
voter and shall be decided within ten (10) days from its filing

Ifthe decision is for the exclusion of the voter's name from the list, the ERB
shall, upon receipt of the final decision, remove the voter's registration record from
the corresponding book of voters, enter the order of exclusion therein, and
thereafter place the record in the inactive files.

SEC. 24. Voters Excluded from the Precinct Certified List of Voters
Through Inadvertence or Registered with Erroneous or Misspelled Names. —
Registered voters who have not been included in the precinct certified list of
voters or who have been include therein with erroneous or misspelled names may
file with the ERB applications for reinstatement or correction of name. For this
purpose, they shall personally accomplish in two (2) copies the consolidated
Application Form for Change or Correction of Entries and Inclusion or
Reinstatement of Record in the List of Voters. It is important that the EO shall
check the box corresponding to the appropriate type of application. If the
applicants are registered voters who have not previously submitted themselves for
biometrics data capture, the DCM operator shall capture the demographics and
biometrics data of the applicants. Thereafter, the DCM operator shall initial below
the space provided for the EO’s signature in Part 2 of the application form.

If their applications are denied or not acted upon, they may file on any date
with the proper municipal, municipal circuit or municipal trial court in cities or
metropolitan trial court their petitions for orders directing that their names to
entered or corrected in the list. They shall attach to the petitions certified copies of
their registration records or identification cards or the entries of their names in the
Certified list of voters used in the preceding election, together with proof that their
applications were denied or not acted upon by the ERB and that they have served
notice to the ERB.

SEC. 25. Voters Excluded from the Precinct Book of Voters Through
Inadvertence or Registered with Erroneous or Misspelled Names. —


Registered voters whose registration records have not been included in the
precinct book of voters, or whose names have been omitted in the list of voters or
who have been included therein with erroneous or misspelled names may file with
the ERB applications for inclusion of their records, or reinstatement or correction
of their names as the case may be. For this purpose, they shall personally
accomplish in two (2) copies the consolidated Application Form for Change or
Correction of Entries and Inclusion or Reinstatement of Record in the List of
Voters. It is important that the EO shall check the box corresponding to the
appropriate type of application. If the applicants are registered voters who have
not previously submitted themselves for biometrics data capture, the DCM
operator shall capture the demographics and biometrics data of the applicants.
Thereafter, the DCM operator shall initial below the space provided for the EO'’s
signature in Part 2 of the application form.

If applications were denied or not acted upon, the voters may file on any
date with the proper municipal or municipal circuit or municipal trial court in cities
‘or metropolitan trial court their petitions for orders directing that the voter's names
be entered or corrected in the list. The voters shall attach to the petitions certified
true copies of their registration records or identification cards or the entries of their
names in the list of voters used in the preceding election, together with proof that
their applications were denied or not acted upon by the ERB and that they have
served notice thereof to the ERB.

SEC. 26. Suspension of the Continuing Registration. — The system of
continuing registration of voters as provided under Republic Act No. 8189,
otherwise known as the “Voter's Registration Act of 1996,” is hereby suspended
upon the approval of this Act. The new system of continuing automated
registration shall, however, commence after the election period for the May 10,
2010 elections.

SEC. 27. Funding. - The amount of Two billion five hundred million pesos
(P2,500,000,000.00) is hereby included in the General Appropriations Act for the
fiscal year 2009 to defray the expenses for an automated general registration
activities.

In case of deficiency in the funding requirements herein provided, such
amount as may be necessary shall be augmented from the 2009 contingency
fund in the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 28. Multi-Partisan Monitoring and Evaluation Committee. — A
Multi-Partisan Monitoring and Evaluation Committee, hereinafter referred to as the
“Committee,” is hereby created composed of six (6) members to be based on
party representation of the six (6) major political parties that fielded presidential
and vice-presidential candidates in the 2004 national elections. The Committee s
an ad hoc body attached to the Commission on Elections but not subject to its
‘supervision and control.

The task of the Committee is to monitor and evaluate the system,
procedures or guidelines prepared by the Commission on Elections for the
conduct of the automated general registration and the continuing system of
automated registration in accordance with this Act.


The Committee shall prepare two reports outlining the findings and
recommendations for immediate action or institution of corrective measures by the
Commission on Elections and the Congress of the Philippines. The first report
shall be submitted to the Commission on Elections and the Congress of the
Philippines three (3) months before the holding of the automated general
registration. The second report shall be due at the end of the year on the system
of continuing automated registration. The amount of not less that Fifty Million
Pesos (Php50,000,000.00) but not more than Eight Million Pesos
(P80,000,000.00) is hereby allocated from the Two billion five hundred pesos
(P2,500,000,000.00) allocation provided in the preceding section for the
operations of the Committee. This amount shall be held in trust by the
Commission subject to the usual accounting and auditing procedures.

SEC. 29. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Commission on
Elections shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, issue the rules
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 30. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and

regulations, or pats thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 31. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.