NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1847
J'lBUit? of the £•, ufl.i.p
23 FEB-7 A9:21
RECEIVED BV;
Introduced by SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS (COMELEC) 
INCREASING THE MANPOWER COMPLEMENT IN ITS FIELD OFFICES, 
PROVIDING OFFICE SPACES SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT FROM LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT UNITS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSA 
BLG. 881, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "OMNIBUS ELECTION 
CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES" AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
No less than the 1987 Constitution recognizes the independence of Commission 
on Elections (COMELEC) as it is mandated to enforce and administer all laws and 
regulations relative to the conduct of an election, plebiscite, initiative, referendum, 
and recall,1 among others.
As the premier guardian of every citizen's ballot, its function necessarily 
includes ensuring the free, fair and honest elections at all times. In order to guarantee 
its independence, it is necessary to amend Sections 53 and 55 of the Omnibus Election 
Code to mandate the COMELEC to provide office spaces to its field offices, instead of 
the local government units, as well as increasing the manpower complement therein.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
1 Section 2(1), Article IX of the 1987 Constitution.
RONALD/<'BATONS DELA ROSA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1847
ol Uif * -riarp
23 FEB-7 A 9 -21
m-ctivLO uv
Introduced by SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS (COMELEC) 
INCREASING THE MANPOWER COMPLEMENT IN ITS FIELD OFFICES, 
PROVIDING OFFICE SPACES SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT FROM LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT UNITS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSA 
BLG. 881, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "OMNIBUS ELECTION 
CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES" AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Section 53, Article VII of B.P. 881, otherwise known as the
2 
"Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines," as amended, is hereby amended as
3 
follows:
4 
"Sec. 53. Field offices of the Commission. - The Commission shall have
5 
the following field offices:
6 
(1) Regional Election Office, headed by the Regional Election Director and
7 
assisted by the Assistant Regional Director and such other subordinate
8 
officers or employees as the Commission may appoint.
9 
(2) Provincial Election Office, headed by the Provincial Election Supervisor
10 
[and assisted by the Assistont Regional Diroctor] FOR EACH
11 
PROVINCE WHO SHALL BE ASSISTED BY AT LEAST ONE (1)


1 
ELECTION ASSISTANT and such other subordinate officers or
2 
employees as the Commission may appoint.
3 
(3) City/Municipal Election Office, headed by the City/Municipal [Registrar]
4 
ELECTION OFFICER FOR EACH CITY OR MUNICIPALITY who
5 
shall be assisted by [on election clerk] AT LEAST ONE (1) ELECTION
6 
ASSISTANT and such [ether] NUMBER OF ASSISTANTS AND
7 
SUBORDINATE OFFICERS OR employees as the Commission may
8 
appoint.
9 
The Commission may delegate its powers and functions or order the
10 
implementation or enforcement of its orders, rulings, or decisions
11 
through the heads of its field offices."
12 
SEC. 2. A New Section 53-A is hereby inserted in Article VII of B.P. 881,
13 
otherwise known as the "Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines," as amended, to
14 
read as follows:
15 
"SEC. 53-A. AUTOMATIC CREATION OF POSITIONS OF ELECTION
16 
OFFICERS AND ELECTION ASSISTANTS. - IF A NEW CITY,
17 
MUNICIPALITY OR ELECTORAL DISTRICT IS CREATED, THE
18 
POSITIONS OF ELECTION OFFICER AND ELECTION ASSISTANTS
19 
ARE AUTOMATICALLY CREATED. THERE SHALL BE ONE (1)
20 
ELECTION ASSISTANT FOR EVERY TWENTY THOUSAND C20,000)
21 
REGISTERED VOTERS."
22 
SEC. 3. A New Section 53-B is hereby inserted in Article VII of B.P. 881,
23 
otherwise known as the "Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines," as amended, to
24 
read as follows:


'SEC. 53-B. ASSIGNMENT IN FIELD OFFICE. - NO OTHER
2 
PERSONNEL, EXCEPT THOSE MENTIONED IN SECTION 53 OF
3 
THIS ACT OR EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED BY LAW, MAY BE
4 
ASSIGNED, DESIGNATED OR DETAILED AT ANY FIELD OFFICE OF
5 
THE COMMISSION. ANY PERSONNEL PERFORMING
6 
ADMINISTRATIVE OR CLERICAL WORK MAY ONLY BE HIRED BY
7 
THE HEAD OF THE FIELD OFFICE.L VIOLATION OF THIS
8 
PROVISION SHALL CONSTITUTE AS AN ELECTION OFFENSE."
9 
SEC. 4. Section 55, Article VII of B.P. 881, otherwise known as the "Omnibus
10 
Election Code of the Philippines," as amended, is hereby amended as follows:
11 
"Sec. 55. Office space. - [The locel-govcrnmcnt concerned shall provide-a
12 
suitable-place-for the office of the provincial election supervisor ond his
13 
staff and-the election--registrar and his staff: Provided, That in case of
14 
failure of the local government concerned to provide such suitable pla€o>
15 
the provincial election supervisor or the election registrar, as the case may
16 
bo, upon prior authority-of-thc Commission and- notice to the -local
17 
government conccrncd,-may lease another place for office and the rentals
18 
thereof shall bo chargeable to the funds of the local government
19 
concornedT] THE COMMISSION SHALL PROVIDE SEPARATE AND
20 
INDEPENDENT OFFICE SPACES FOR ITS FIELD OFFICES."
21 
SEC. 5. Transition. - The Commission shall formulate a plan to transfer its field
22 
offices from the facilities of local government units within five (5) years from the
23 
effectivity of this Act: Provided, That the local government concerned shall continue
24 
to provide such office space to the provincial election supervisor and his staff and the


1 
election officer and his staff until such time that the Commission has provided a
2 
separate office as provided under Section 5 hereof.
3 
SEC. 6. Appropriations. - The initial funding shall be charged against the
4 
current appropriation of the Commission and other sources available under the current
5 
General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued
6 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual GAA.
7 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Chairperson of the
8 
Commission shall, in coordination with the Secretary of the Interior and Local
9 
Government and the Secretary of Budget and Management, formulate the
10 
implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this
11 
Act.
12 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any portion of this Act is declared
13 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall
14 
remain in effect.
15 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, executive orders and rules
16 
and regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
17 
repealed or modified accordingly.
18
19 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
20 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
21 
circulation.
Approved,