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E-Filed
RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. _ 2702

Introduced by

HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
and
HON. JUDE A. ACIDRE

AN ACT
AN ACT INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF AUTHORIZED ELECTION CAMPAIGN
EXPENSES OF CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL PARTIES, AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE SECTION 13 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7166, ENTITLED, "AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR SYNCHRONIZED NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS AND
FOR ELECTORAL REFORMS, AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATIONS THEREFOR,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES"

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 7166, otherwise known as the Act Providing for Synchronized
National and Local Elections and for Electoral Reforms, Authorizing Appropriations
therefor, and for Other Purposes, provides for the authorized expenses of candidates
and political parties which ranges from five pesos (P5.00) to ten pesos (P'10.00) only
for every voter currently registered in the constituency where the president-candidate,
vice president-candidate, and other candidates filed their certificate of candidacy.
However, it should be noted that this law was enacted in 1991, and since then, the
value of the Philippine Peso has changed significantly and such limitations on the
expenses are not anymore suitable nor applicable in the modern-day.

The existing cap on the authorized campaign expenses poses a problem for
candidates as inflation affects the prices of their operational services as well as the
necessary materials, advertisements, and even transportation expenses. Aside from


those, the corresponding salary of human resource necessary for their campaigns has
also increased.

To address these, the bill seeks to increase the authorized election campaign
expenses of candidates and political parties.

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

Rep. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
Representative, ‘Tingog Sinirangan

Rep. JUDE/. ACIDRE
Representative, Tingog Sinirangan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 2702

Introduced by

HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
and
HON. JUDE A. ACIDRE

AN ACT
INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF AUTHORIZED ELECTION CAMPAIGN
EXPENSES OF CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL PARTIES, AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE SECTION 13 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7166, ENTITLED, "AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR SYNCHRONIZED NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS AND
FOR ELECTORAL REFORMS, AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATIONS THEREFOR,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES"

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

Section 1. Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7166 is hereby amended to read as
follows:

"SEC. 13. Authorized Expenses of Candidates and Political Parties.

The aggregate amount that a candidate or registered political party may spend
for election campaign shall be as follows:

“(a) For candidates - [Ten pesos (P10.00)] FIFTY PESOS (P50.00) for
President, [and] Vice-President AND SENATORS; and for other candidates, [Three
pesos (P3.00)] THIRTY PESOS (P30.00) for every voter currently registered in the
constituency where [he] THEY ARE SEEKING TO BE ELECTED AND HAVE filed
[his] A certificate off candidacy [: Provided, That, a candidate without any political party
and without support from any political party may be allowed to spend Five pesos
(P5.00) for every such voter] FOR; and

"(b) For political parties [Five pesos (P5.00)] FIFTY PESOS (P50.00) FOR


THEIR RESPECTIVE NATIONAL CANDIDATES AND THIRTY PESOS (P30.00)
FOR LOCAL CANDIDATES for every voter [currently registered in the constituency
or constituencies where it has official candidates].

“Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, any contribution in cash
or in kind to any candidate or political party or coalition of parties for campaign
purposes, duly reported to the Commission, shall not be subject to the payment of
[any gift] DONOR'S tax.

EVERY SIX (6) YEARS FROM THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, THE
COMMISSION SHALL IN CONSULTATION WITH THE BANGKO SENTRAL NG
PILIPINAS, THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND
THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY, SHALL ADJUST THE AMOUNTS OF
AUTHORIZED ELECTION CAMPAIGN EXPENSES UNDER THIS SECTION
BASED ON THE INFLATION RATE AND THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.

Section 2. Separability Clause. \t any part, section, or provision of this Act
shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this Act or any provision
not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 3. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances,
presidential proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof that are inconsistent

with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Section 4. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,