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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES _) y
Second Regular Session ) © reap 0

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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

House BillNo. _ 5991

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Elections in the Philippines are always costly exercises, both for the candidate
and the government. In the May 2010 national elections, the Commission on Elections
entered into a contract for the automation of the counting of the votes for the amount of
P7.2 Billion, just for the PCOS machines alone.

With regard to the cost for the 2010 Barangay elections, the government spent
around P3.6 Billion. And for a country whose budget deficit was estimated by the
President to reach a record high of P349 billion by the end of the year, P3.6 billion was
too high a price to spend on barangay elections.

Also, it is of common knowledge that elections, whether national, local or
barangay, prove to be divisive among the populace. Candidates and their supporters try
to destroy their opponents by using any means necessary just to be able to secure
victory. As proof of the division and problems caused by the past barangay elections,
the COMELEC investigated the interruption of the elections and is just about to come
out with the results of said investigation to determine who would be held liable for the
late delivery of ballot and election returns which caused the delay of the conduct of
elections in several polling centers nationwide. Also, many election documents were left
behind by the shipping companies tapped by the poll body because of packaging delays
at the National Printing Office in Quezon City.


Furthermore, the three year term of barangay officials is too short a time for the
unity and stability in barangay leadership and affairs. It is not enough to ensure that the
programs of the barangay are carried out properly specially considering the fact that it
cannot be denied that the last year of the term is basically used for campaigning. An
additional two years to the term of office of barangay officials would therefore be in
order. It would ensure more stability in the barangay level and that the programs
initiated by the current leaders would come to fruition

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

|
Jes
RUFUS B. RO! jUEZ

MAXI . RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES _)
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

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

House BillNo. _ 3931

AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 43 OF REPUBLIC ACT 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES BY INCREASING BY TWO.
YEARS THE TERM OF OFFICE OF BARANGAY OFFICIALS.

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

Section 1. Section 43 of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended to read as follows:

SEC. 43. Term of Office. - (a) 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: Provided, That all local officials
first elected during the local elections immediately following
the ratification of the 1987 Constitution shall serve until noon
of June 30, 1992

(b) No local elective official shall serve for more than three
(3) consecutive terms in the same position. Voluntary
fenunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be
considered as an interruption in the continuity of service for
the full term for which the elective official concerned was
elected.

(c) The term of office of barangay officials and members of
the sangguniang kabataan shall be for [three (3) years] FIVE
(5) YEARS. [which shall begin after the regular election of
barangay officials on the second Monday of May 1994.]

SEC 2. The amendment introduced by this Act shall apply to the next Barangay
Elections to be held after the effectivity of this Act and every Barangay Elections
thereafter


SEC 3. Separability Clause — Should any of the provisions of this Act or any part thereof
be declared invalid, the other provisions, so far as they are separable from the invalid
‘ones, shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC 4. Repealing Clause — All laws, presidential decrees and issuances, executive
orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC 5. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two
(2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,