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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
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*22 JUL18 PA'49
SENATE
730
RECEIVED BY;
S. B. NO.
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.
1 1987 Constitution, Article IX-C, Section 2(1).
2 Section 2(2).


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 
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.
SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
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iSi Senate
of t!jr ,€’k ' ii’tni'p
*22 JUL18 P4 49
RECEIVED BY:
S. B. NO.
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
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 55 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, as 
amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:
"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.


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SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the Commission on Elections, in consultation with relevant 
stakeholders, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations to effectively 
implement 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, the 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,