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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2903

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE DANTE S. GARCIA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) plays a crucial role in nation-
building as it safeguards the constitutional right of our citizens to suffrage,
to freely choose - through honest, orderly and peaceful elections - those will
represent and govern them.

It is one of the pillars of our democracy and it is an indispensable
democratic institution. The 1987 Constitution supplies the poll body's
mandate, which is to "Enforce and administer all laws and regulations
relative to the conduct of an election, plebiscite, initiative, referendum, and
recall," among others, as embodied in Article IX.

And as such, the State needs to ensure that those who work in COMELEC
are honest, competent and exhibit the highest standards of accountability
and public service. Corollary to this principle is the equal protection clause
of the Constitution, which states that it is the State’s responsibility to
provide adequate and appropriate remuneration to employees, with the
ultimate goal of achieving equal pay for equal work in government service.

However, there appears to be a wide gap between the mandated
responsibilities of COMELEC officials and employees, and the amount of
compensation they receive in the fulfilment of such duties. They receive
lower salaries than their counterparts in other government agencies.

As an example, a Provincial Election Supervisor is tasked to oversee election
matters on a provincial level receives a lower salary than a Division Chief in
a government agency. This low level of compensation is also a factor why

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some COMELEC employees are susceptible to the commission of electoral
fraud, although it should never be a justification.

This bill aims to revamp the organizational structure of the COMELEC in
order to address, among others, the disparity in remuneration of its officials
and employees to other government workers of equal rank, duties and
responsibilities. This reorganization includes Field Offices of the COMELEC,
and it involves the upgrade and reclassification of plantilla positions.

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



REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2903

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE DANTE S. GARCIA

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE FIELD OFFICES OF THE COMMISSION ON
ELECTIONS BY UPGRADING AND CREATING CERTAIN POSITIONS,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 53 OF BATAS PAMBANSA
BILANG 881, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE,”
AS AMENDED AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Section 53 of Batas Pambansa Bilang 881 is hereby amended to read as
follows:

“SEC. 53. Field offices of the Commission. - The Commission shall
have the following field offices:

(1) Regional Election Office, headed by the Regional Election Director
with the rank of Director IV and assisted by the Assistant Regional
Director with the rank of Director III.

Other officers and employees of the office are Regional Election
Attorney, Senior Administrative Officer V, Accountant I, Human
Resource Management Officer I, Supply Officer 1,
StenographicReporter III, Watchman, Process Server, Administrative
Aide IV, Assistant Election Specialist, Utility Worker and driver II.


The positions and corresponding salary grades in the regional election

office are as follows:

POSITIONS

SALARY GRADES

DIRECTOR IV

DIRECTOR II

ATTORNEY V

SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER V

ASSISTANT ELECTION SPECIALIST

ACCOUNTANT III

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
OFFICER II

SUPPLY OFFICER III

STENOGRAPHIC REPORTER III

WATCHMAN

PROCESS SERVER

ADMINISTRATIVE AIDE IV

UTILITY WORKER

DRIVER II

(2) Provincial Election Office, headed by the Provincial Election Director

with the rank of Director Il.

Other officers and employees of the office are Computer
Maintenance Specialist, Assistant Election Specialist, Administrative
Officer V, Watchman, Administrative Aide IV, Utility Worker and

Driver I



The positions and corresponding salary grades in the provincial
election office are as follows:

POSITIONS SALARY GRADES

DIRECTOR II 26
COMPUTER MAINTENANCE 2
SPECIALIST

ASSISTANT ELECTION SPECIALIST 2
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER V 18
WATCHMAN 7
ADMINISTRATIVE AIDE IV 4
UTILITY WORKER 3
DRIVER II 3

(3) Highly Urbanized City (HUC) Election Office, headed by the HUC
Election Director with the rank of Director II and assisted by a minimum of
two (2) Assistant election specialists. Other officers and employees of the
office are Computer Maintenance Specialist, Administrative Officer V,
Watchman, Administrative Aide IV, Utility Worker, and Driver II.

‘The positions and corresponding salary grades in the HUC election
office are as follows:

POSITIONS SALARY GRADES
DIRECTOR Ii 26
COMPUTER MAINTENANCE
SPECIALIST
ASSISTANT ELECTION SPECIALISTS 2
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER V 8
WATCHMAN 7
ADMINISTRATIVE AIDE IV 4
UTILITY WORKER 3
DRIVER I 3

(4) City or Municipal Election Office, headed by the City or Municipal
Election Officer with the rank of Director I. There shall be a minimum of
two (2) Assistant Election Specialists in every city or municipality; Provided,
that for every additional 20,000 voters in excess of 50,000 voters, additional


Assistant Election Specialists shall be appointed. Other officers and
employees of the office are Watchman, Administrative Aide IV, and Utility
Worker.

The positions and corresponding salary grades in the City and
Municipal election office are as follows:

| POSITIONS SALARY GRADES
‘DIRECTOR I _ m4 il
ASSISTANT ELECTION SPECIALIST 2
WATCHMAN 7
ADMINISTRATIVE AIDE IV 4
UTILITY WORKER 3

Only the personnel mentioned in this section or expressly
authorized by law, shall be assigned, designated, engaged, or detailed at
the Commission’s Field Offices, or allowed to perform administrative or
clerical work in the field officer. Violation of this provision shall
constitute an election offense.

The Commission may delegate its powers and functions or order the
implementation or enforcement of its orders, rulings or decisions through
the heads of its field offices.

‘The implementation of this section shall be in accordance with the
Organization, Staffing Position Classification and Compensation Standard
and shall be submitted to the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM) for evaluation and approval.

SEC.2. Appropriations. The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act
shall be charged against the available appropriations of the COMELEC. Thereafter, such
sums as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual
General AppropriationsAct.

SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days from the approval
of this Act, the Chairperson of the Commission on Elections shall, in coordination with
the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission and Secretary of Budget and
Management, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.


SEC. 4. Separability Clause. If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in force and
effect.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, issuances, decrees, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are
amended, modified, or repealed accordingly.

SEC.6. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,