Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

( )

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE PEDRO P. ROMUALDO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The country has just experienced its first full automated elections last May 10, 2010 for
national and local positions. However, there are still allegations and speculations of
irregularities and massive cheating. With a large number of null votes of more than two
million votes, certain safeguards must be in placed to assure or minimize
disenfranchisement of voters and to ensure clean, honest, orderly and credible elections.

At present, there is still an urgent need to review the existing automation law to effect
the necessary safeguards to assure the Filipino voters that all votes cast are accounted
for properly and are auditable. It is therefore recommended that we further amend
Republic Act No. 9340 which has set the synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang
Kabataan elections on October 2010.

While we are still reviewing the automation law and the entire automation process,
there is no need to push through with the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan
Elections set on October 2010. This will also give enough time for Comelec to focus on
finishing its job on the automation elections and attend to various protest cases.

It is therefore recommended that the i Barangay and Sangguniang
Kabataan elections be reset to the 24 week of October 2012 and all incumbent Barangay
and Sangguniang Kabataan officials shall remain in office and be on hold over capacity
until they are suspended or removed for cause and until their successors shall been
elected and qualified. All Barangay and Sangguniang ex officio members of the
Sangguniang Bayan or Sangguniang Panlalawigan shall continue to serve as such until
the next Barangay elections.

Our country will have a respite on elections and funds earmarked for the Barangay and
Sangguniang Kabataan elections will become savings of the Commission on Elections.
Thus, the funds will revert back to the coffers of the government. The extended period
will allow us to institutionalize certain mechanisms to ensure that the next automation.
elections will be clean, credible, honest, auditable and orderly as well as minimize
disenfranchisement of votes.

Your support for the early passage of this bill is highly enjoined.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO."

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE PEDRO P. ROMUALDO

AN ACT
AMENDING FURTHER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9340, “AN ACT AMENDING
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9164, RESETTING THE BARANGAY AND
SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”.

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

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 9340 is hereby amended to read as
follows:

“SECTION 1. Date of Election. - There shall be synchronized Barangay and
Sangguniang Kabataan elections which shall be held on [July 15, 2002] THE SECOND
MONDAY OF OCTOBER 2012 AND EVERY THREE (3) YEARS
‘THEREAFTER. [Subsequent synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan
elections shall be held on the last Monday of October 2007 and every three (3) years
thereafter.

SEC. 2. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9340 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 2. Assumption of Office. - The term of office of the Barangay and
Sangguniang Kabataan officials elected under this Act shall commence [on August 14,
2002,] AT NOON OF NOVEMBER 30, next following their elections. [The term of
office of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials elected in the October 2007
election and subsequent elections shall commence at noon of November 30 next
following their elections. ]”

SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The COMELEC shalll promulgate
such rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act.

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

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act
is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be
affected and thereby remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 6. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in at least two (2) national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,