EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

420

House Bill No.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Elections in the Philippines are always costly exercises, both for the candidate and
the government. Candidates spend a lot just to get elected.

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.

For the 2019 Midterm elections, the COMELEC has reportedly spent P6 billion. And
the Filipino people are just starting to recover from the stress and division that the midterm
elections brought. Staging another election in 2020, even if it is the barangay elections would
definitely cause more stress and division among the population. Also, the scheduled
barangay elections for 2020 will just be 2 years from the last barangay elections in May
2018. The incumbent officials will only have a 2 year term, This is unjust and empractical and
will ikewise breed instability in the barangays.

A 4-year term is more logical and will promote better and more sustainable
development of the barangays.

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

RUFUS B. RODRI


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No. 420

AN ACT
POSTPONING THE MAY 2020 BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN
ELECTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9164, AS
AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9340, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10656, REPUBLIC ACT
NO. 10923 AND REPUBLIC ACT 10952, 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. 9164, as amended by Republic Act No. 9340,
Republic Act No. 10656, Republic Act No. 10923 and Republic Act 10952 is hereby further
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. Subsequent synchronized barangay
and sangguniang kabataan elections shail be held on the last
Monday of October 2007 and every three (3) years thereafter:
Provided, That the barangay and sangguniang kabataan
elections on October 23, 2017 shall be postponed to the
second Monday of May 2018 Subsequent synchronized
barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections shall be held
on the second Monday of [May 2020] OCTOBER 2022 and
every three (3) years thereafter.

SEC 2. Hold-over of incumbent Elective Officials — incumbent Barangay Officials shall
remain and continue in Office in a hold-over capacity until their successors shall have been
elected and qualified, unless sooner removed or suspended for cause.

SEC 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The COMELEC shail, within ninety (90) days
after the effectivity of this Act, promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to
implement this Act.

SEC 4. 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,
shail remain in full force and effect.

SEC 5. 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 6. Effectivity - This Act shail take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,