REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Commission on Elections have, since the 1940s, protected the sanctity of the Filipino
ballot. It performs a vital function in ensuring that the election of this country’s leaders are
conducted with integrity, transparency, and in full compliance with all existing electoral laws and
regulations. With such a vital role to play, one would expect that the COMELEC’s employees are

well-compensated for their efforts, but reality proves otherwise.

Among the approximately 6,000 COMELEC employees nationwide, 5000 are from the
rank-and-file classification receiving mid- to low-level income. If we are to compare the existing
salaries of COMELEC employees to that of their counterparts in other constitutional bodies and
government agencies, many of whom are of similar qualifications as them, a sizeable difference is

readily apparent.

To elaborate: COMELEC Lawyers (Attomey II, Election Officers for Cities, and Provincial
Election Supervisors), are in Salary Grade 18, 21, or 24, receiving P33,452, P43,439, or P56,610
per month, respectively. Meanwhile, the Public Attomey’s Office provides to its Public Attorneys
to IV a salary grade of Salary Grade 25 to 29, which are P53,730 to P73,099 respectively. Clerks in
the Regional Trial Courts are at Salary Grade 24 to Salary Grade 26, effectively giving them

P56,610 to P67,690 a month.


Moreover, Provincial Election Supervisors wields effective supervision over areas with
500,000 to a million voters, making them roughly equivalent to the DepEd’s Division
Superintendent. However, the former is at Salary Grade 24, which pegs at P56,610, while the latter

receives P67,690 at Salary Grade 26.

Clearly enough, there is a discrepancy between the rates of pay between COMELEC
‘employees and those of other constitutional bodies and government agencies, although they are
virtually exerting equal the effort. It can even be argued that during election season, they work
twice as hard, despite the complications, which such season often presents. This is contrary to the
‘equal protection clause of the law, which encompasses the maxim, that equal work must be
‘compensated with equal pay. Congress must therefore exert their honest efforts to provide to our

hardworking COMELEC employees the just compensation that they are entitled to.

Provide for the greater well-being of these employees and it shall be rightful for us to expect
them to act in good faith.

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

ALEJANO
Representative
Magdalo Parsa sa Pilipino Party-List


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

AN ACT
UPGRADING THE SALARIES OF EMPLOYEES OF THE COMMISSION ON
ELECTIONS

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

SECTION 1. Title—This Act shall be known as the COMELEC Employees’ Salary
Upgrading Act of 2016.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy.—In accordance with the Constitution’s equal protection
clause, it is the Government's responsibility to provide fair and adequate remuneration to
employees with the ultimate goal of achieving equal pay for equal work in government service.

SEC. 3. Increase in Salary Grades of Field COMELEC Employees.—The present
minimum salary grade level of employees of the Commission on Elections shall be adjusted in the
following manner:

‘CURRENT | INCREASED

POSITION SALARY | SALARY

GRADE GRADE
‘Contested Ballot Box Custodian T 8 1
Contested Ballot Box Custodian II 10 B
Election Assistant I 7 10

Election Assistant I 9 By
Election Field Officer 2 m4
Election Officer I 2 is
Election Officer I 5 18
Election Officer IIT 18 2
Election Officer IV (outside NCR) 2 24



Election Officer IV (within NCR) 2 25
Election Precincts Analyst I 10 B
Election Precincts Analyst II 4 7
Regional Election Attorney 2 oj

Provincial Election Supervisor I B 26

Provincial Election Supervisor II or 26

Provincial Election Supervisor III ory 26

Provincial Election Supervisor IV 26 26

SEC. 4. Reclassification/Upgrading of Plantilla Positions in the COMELEC Main and
Field Offices.—All remaining rank and file plantilla positions in the COMELEC main and field
offices, including casual employees, shall be reclassified and upgraded accordingly.

SEC. 5. Rules and Regulations.—The Commission on Elections and the Department of
Budget and Management as well as other government agencies charged with the enforcement of
this Act or any of its parts shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations. Such
rules and regulations shall become effective fifteen (15) days after announcement of its adoption in
newspapers of general circulation.

SEC. 6. Appropriations.—The Government shall appropriate such amount as may be
necessary to carry out the objectives of this Act. The initial funding required for the implementation.
of this Act shall be sourced from the savings of the COMELEC and other possible sources that may
be determined by the Chairperson, and subsequent funds needed shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act for the year following the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause.—Should any provision herein be declared unconstitutional,
the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause—All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or other
issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.

SEC. 9. Effectivity.—This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or one (1) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,