EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
IkitAte
• f f lt f  of tfK •fa rfa rji
SENATE
’19 DEC-9 A9:l2
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 55 OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 881, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE, AS 
AMENDED, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Commission on Elections (“Commission”) is constitutionally mandated to 
“administer and enforce all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of an 
election, plebiscite, initiative, referendum, and recall,”1 as well as to assume 
“exclusive original jurisdiction over all contests relating to the elections, returns, and 
qualifications of all elective regional, provincial, and city officials, and appellate 
jurisdiction over all contests involving elective municipal officials decided by trial 
courts of general jurisdiction, or involving elective barangay officials decided by trial 
courts of limited jurisdiction.”2
As a constitutional organ entrusted with the gargantuan task of implementing 
election laws, the Commission is likewise duty laden to supervise the conduct of all 
elections in the Philippines and ensure that the same is free, orderly, honest, 
peaceful, and credible. The attainment of this objective is crucial in order to ensure 
the preservation of the sanctity of the right of suffrage and the electoral process -  
both fundamental stronghold of a democracy like ours.
So critical indeed are the tasks entrusted to the Commission that the 1987 
Constitution saw it fit to vest upon the Commission a significant degree of 
independence and further ordained its fiscal autonomy to allow it to fulfill its core 
functions unhampered and without undue interference from external factors.
This constitutional design of independence and autonomy however may seem 
to have been enfeebled by the existing Section 55 of the Omnibus Election Code, 
which leaves to local governments the provision of office spaces for the provincial
1 1987 Constitution, Article IX-C, Section 2(1).
Section 2(2).


election supervisors and the election officers. This opens an opportunity for elective 
officials, not only to exert undue influence and pressure upon the Commission’s 
front-liner field officials, but worst, to harass them by depriving them or giving them 
substandard institutional support. This possibility must be curbed and totally 
eradicated, if only for the Commission to be truly independent in the sense intended 
by the Constitution.
Thus, the said Section 55 must be amended to be consistent with and to be 
truly reflective of the constitutional independence that is due to the Commission. The 
power and duty to provide office spaces for election officers and provincial election 
supervisors must be removed from the hands of the local governments and must be 
returned to the Commission.
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATO
OEL VILLANUEVA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. NO. 121 5
A fliiite
• t t i *  Of t v
■ 
DEC-9 A 9:12
REChIVl D S'/:
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 55 OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 881, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE, AS 
AMENDED, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. 
Section 55 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, as
2 
amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22 
23
"Section 55. Office space. -  [The local government concerned shall 
provide a suitable place for the office of the provincial election supervisor 
and his staff and the election registrar and his staff: Provided, That in 
case of failure of the local government concerned to provide such 
suitable place, the provincial election supervisor or the election registrar, 
as the case may be, upon prior authority of the Commission and notice to 
the local government concerned, may lease another place for office and 
the rentals thereof shall be chargeable to the funds of the local 
government concerned.] THE COMMISSION SHALL PROVIDE AN 
ACCESSIBLE AND SUITABLE PLACE FOR ITS FIELD OFFICERS AND 
THEIR STAFF, CHARGEABLE TO THE YEARLY APPROPRIATIONS 
OF THE COMMISSION."
SEC. 2. Appropriation. -  The initial appropriation to carry out the provisions of this 
Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the Commission on 
Elections. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued implementation of this 
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Commission on Elections, in consultation with relevant


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
stakeholders, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations to effectively 
carry out the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. -  All acts, laws, decrees, executive orders, letters of 
instructions and regulations or any part thereof which are inconsistent with any 
provision of this Act are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.
SEC. 5. Separability Clause. -  If for any reason, any section or provision of this Act 
is declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, thq other sections or provisions of this 
Act which are not affected shall continue in full force and effect.
SEC. 6. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,