TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
-8 P5 33
SENATE 
S. No. 263
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
ENABLING THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS TO ESTABLISH AN 
AUTOMATED AND ONLINE SYSTEM FOR VOTER REGISTRATION, 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The right to suffrage or the right to vote, which is enshrined in our Constitution, 
is an essential attribute of a democratic country like the Philippines. It enables the 
people to participate in the process of government in order to assure that its powers 
are derived from the consent of the governed.
Before one can exercise the right to vote, a registration process is required 
through local Commission on Elections (COMELEC) offices. Yet, registration appears 
to be a time-consuming, inconvenient, and exhausting process, which could be 
deterring qualified citizens from registering, rendering them unable to participate 
during the elections.
Thus, to encourage citizens to register, this bill seeks to enable COMELEC, as 
far as practicable, to adopt, design, and use an automated and online system for voter 
registration. This will cover the electronic and online filing and processing of the 
application for registration, transfer of registration, reactivation, correction of voter 
registration entries, and such other requests and processes relative to the voter's 
registration and records.
Streamlining and automating the registration will result in a more efficient, 
convenient, and accessible process, which will undoubtedly encourage more qualified 
citizens to participate in the electoral process.


In view of the foregoing, the passage of the bill is earnestly sought.
MARK A. VILLAR


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
JIJL-8 P5 33
SENATE 
S. No. ^63
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
ENABLING THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS TO ESTABLISH AN 
AUTOMATED AND ONLINE SYSTEM FOR VOTER REGISTRATION AND 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to establish a
2 
system of registration that ensures and guarantees a clean, complete, permanent, and
3 
updated list of voters. To encourage and ensure a continuing system of voter
4 
registration, the State shall adopt and make use of technologies that shall facilitate
5 
and allow the automated and online registration of voters, taking into account the
6 
integrity, completeness, and accuracy of the list of voters.
7 
Sec. 2. Automated and Online Voter Registration System. -The Commission on
8 
Elections (COMELEC) shall, as far as practicable, adopt, design, and use an automated
9 
and online system for voter registration that enables the electronic and online filing
10 
and processing of the application for registration, transfer of registration, reactivation,
11 
correction of voter registration entries, and such other requests and processes relative
12 
to the voter's registration and records.
13 
The COMELEC shall also endeavor to use the same automated and online
14 
system for the verification and approval of application for voter registration, transfer
15 
of registration, reactivation, correction of voter registration entries, and such other
16 
requests and processes relative to the voter's registration and records as may be
17 
practicable, bearing in mind the State's policy of ensuring the integrity and accuracy
18 
of the voters list and records.


1 
Sec. 3. Automated and Online Verification. - Where online verification of the
2 
application or request is not feasible in the meantime, the system shali nonetheiess
3 
aiiow the applicant to submit his or her appiication or request through the COMELECs
4 
online platform. The same application and the information contained therein, including
5 
the demographics of the applicant, shall be processed electronically and shall be
6 
automatically stored in the COMELEC database for pending voter registration
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application or requests.
8 
The system shall promptly provide the applicant with complete and detailed
9 
information as to the steps required to complete the application or request.
10 
Sec. 4. Personal Filing. - The automated and online filing of application for
11 
voter registration shall not preclude the personal filing of applications for registration,
12 
transfer of registration, reactivation, correction of voter registration entries, and such
13 
other requests, which shall continue to be avaiiabie and conducted in the office of the
14 
Election Officer during office hours.
15 
Sec. 5. Automated and Electronic Notice of Approval or Disapproval - The
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automated and electronic system of voter registration shall include a feature that
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automatically informs the applicant of the successful submission of his or her
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application or request. The system shail provide detailed instructions on how the
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applicant may follow up or complete the application for registration or requests, the
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estimated time to compiete the processing of the application or request, detaiis on the
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notice of approval or disapproval of the application and requests, further remedies
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available in case of disapprovai, and such other information necessary to promptly
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assist the applicant with his or her application or request.
24 
Sec. 6. Secure Internet Website and Online Platforms. - The COMELEC shaii
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design, devise, adopt, or otherwise use a secure Internet Website or online platform
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where such applications may be filed by voters and/or applicants. Security measures
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shall be put in place to protect and guarantee the completeness, accuracy, and
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integrity of voter registration forms, applications, and information submitted and filed
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through such Internet Website or oniine piatform.
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Sec. 7. Automatic Registration - Within ten (10) years from the effectivity of
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this Act, the COMELEC shall implement a program wherein persons registered under


1 
the existing National ID Program shall be automatically registered as voter of the place
2 
of their declared residence upon reaching the allowable voting age.
3 
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -The COMELEC, in coordination
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with the appropriate government agencies, including the Department of Science and
5 
Technology (DOST) and the Department of Information and Communications
6 
Technology (DICT), and in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate
7 
the implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) from the effectivity of this
8 
Act.
9 
Sec. 9. Appropriation. -The amount necessary for the effective implementation
10 
of this Act shall be included in the budget of the COMELEC in the annual General
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Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 10. Separability Clause - Any portion or provisions of this Act that may be
13 
declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions
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or provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions or provisions can still subsist
15 
and be given effect in their entirety.
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Sec. 11. Repealing Clause - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
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memoranda, circulars, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof,
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which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed, amended, or modified
19 
accordingly.
20 
Sec. 12. Effectivity Cause -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
21 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
22 
circulation.
Approved,


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No.
Introduced by SENATOR MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
REGULATING THE DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES OF DEBT COLLECTORS TO 
PROTECT BORROWERS FROM ABUSES, HARASSMENT, UNFAIR 
TREATMENT, AND MISREPRESENTATIONS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
While the proliferation of online lending platforms enhanced access to credit, it 
has also unfortunately led to a rise in abusive, unethical, and unfair debt collection 
practices. According to several reports, debtors are being bombarded daily with 
threatening text messages and missed calls, fraudulent court orders or processes, 
fabricated criminal cases, and unauthorized access and use of personal information.
Additionally, lending and financing companies have resorted to engaging third- 
party service providers (TPSP) to give themselves "plausible deniability" and avoid 
liability for client harassment.1
The existence of numerous laws and regulations governing lending activities, 
such as the "Truth in Lending Act", the "Financing Company Act of 1998", the "Lending 
Company Regulation Act of 2007", the "Financial Products and Services Consumer 
Protection Act", issuances of the Bangko Sentrai ng Pilipinas (BSP) and Securities and 
Exchange Commission (SEC), and even RA No. 10173 or the "Data Privacy Act of 
2012", have not deterred these unscrupulous acts that have led to the ruin of lives.
Thus, this bill aims to tightly regulate the debt collection practices of lending 
and financing companies, credit card companies, and their TPSPs. Specifically, it
Rafael Angelo M. Padilla, Fintech: Law and First Principles 380 (2020).


establishes clear guidelines and limits on how debt collectors deal with debtors. Under 
threat of liability, debt collectors cannot engage in harassing, oppressive, and abusive 
behavior, use false, deceptive, or misleading means, or resort to unfair or 
unconscionable collection practices. On the other hand, debtors shall be provided with 
protections such as strict confidentiality of their information, the issuance of receipts 
for payments, and the right to a complete accounting of all details relating to their 
debts.
In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
MARK A. VILLAR