Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5033

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As a manifestation of support to this timely piece of legislation, this representation
respectfully refiles this bill, which has constantly been receiving ‘support from the
past (Rep. Tinio and Rep. Castro’s HB 1514) and present Congress.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is comprised of more than 6,000
employees nationwide. The majority of the employees (around 5,000) are from
the rank-and-file, receiving a low level compensation for their services. There has
been an expressed dismay among the employees of the Commission in regard to
the disparity of their current salaries as compared to the employees of other
Government Agencies.

According to the research done by Commission on Elections Employees Union
(COMELEC-EU), they discovered that the disparity in the salary dates back to the
1990s. COMELEC lawyers, accountants, statisticians, and other professionals
receive less than their counterparts in other agencies. Below are some of
comparisons found by COMELEC EU:

COMELEC OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
COMELEC Lawyers (Attorney II) Public Attorney's Office (PA I- PA V)
SG 18 Salary Grade: SG 25 to SG 29

Regional Trial Court Clerks
SG 24 - SG 26



Provincial Election Supervisors Department of Education Division
SG 24 Superintendents
SG 26
Election Officers Department of Education District
SG 12- SG 21 Supervisors
SG 22

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is the sole agency that handles every
aspect of the election process. COMELEC employees persevere all year long to
ensure that every step of the process is carried out from the voter's registration up
to the canvassing of votes. Their work requires a great deal of time and energy
especially during the four month-long election season. It is only fitting to give the
employees of COMELEC a just compensation especially because their duties and
responsibilities are anchored in upholding the democratic right of every Filipino.

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

JOH IN//YUL SERVO” C. NIETO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

House Bill No. 5033

se
Introduced by Representative John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto

SS

AN ACT
UPGRADING THE SALARIES OF EMPLOYEES OF THE COMMISSION ON
ELECTIONS

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "COMELEC Employees’ Salary
Upgrading Act of 2018."

SECTION 2. - Declaration of Policy. - In accordance with the Constitution's
equal protection clause, it is the Government's responsibility to provide fair and
adequate remuneration to employees with the ultimate goal of achieving equal pay
for equal work in government service.

SECTION 3. Increase in Salary Grades of Field COMELEC Employees. - The
present minimum salary grade level of employees of the Commission on Elections
shall be adjusted in the following manner:

POSITION CURRENT | INCREASED
SALARY SALARY
GRADE GRADE
Contested Ballot Box Custodian I 8 fier |
Contested Ballot Box Custodian II 10 13
Election Assistant I 7 10
Election Assistant IT 9 12
: Election Field Officer “21 24
Election Officer I 12 aS
Election Officer IT 15 18
Election Officer IIT 18 21
Election Officer IV (outside NCR) 21 24
Election Officer IV (within NCR) 21 Zonal
Election Precincts Analyst I 10 at



Election Precincts Analyst IT 14 17
Regional Election Attorney 21 CS
Provincial Election Supervisor I 23 26
Provincial Election Supervisor II 24 26
Provincial Election Supervisor IIT 25 26
Provincial Election Supervisor IV 26 26

SECTION 4. Reclassification/Upgrading of Plantilla Positions in the
COMELEC Main and Field Offices. - All remaining rank and file plantilla positions
in the COMELEC main and field offices, including casual employees, shall be
reclassified and upgraded accordingly.

SECTION 5. Rules and Regulations. - The Commission on Elections and the
Department of Budget and Management as well as other government agencies
charged with the enforcement of this Act or any of its parts shall promulgate the
necessary implementing rules and regulations. Such rules and regulations shall
become effective fifteen (15) days after announcement of its adoption in
newspapers of general circulation.

SECTION 6. Appropriations. - The Government shall appropriate such amount
as may be necessary to carry out the objectives of this Act. The initial funding
required for the implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the savings of
the COMELEC and other possible sources that may be determined by the
Chairperson, and subsequent funds needed shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act for the year following the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - Should any provision herein be declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of
this Act.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations,
or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are

hereby repealed.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or one (1) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,