TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 AUG-7 P4--18
SEN
S.B. No
Afi27
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
INCREASING THE AUTHORIZED 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
More than three decades have passed since the enactment of Republic Act 
(RA) No. 7166, also known as "An Act Providing for Synchronized National and Local 
Elections and for Electoral Reforms, Authorizing Appropriations Therefor, and for 
Other Purposes", which sets the allowable campaign expenses for candidates and 
political parties.
Over this period, the country has seen a 396% rise in the cost of goods and 
services, making it increasingly difficult for candidates to stay within the spending 
limits prescribed by law. The cost of campaign materials, printing, advertising, 
transportation, and other operational needs has significantly increased. To illustrate, 
the purchasing power of Php 1 in 1991 is now equal to Php 4.96.
Given the outdated nature of the current expenditure limits, there is a 
pressing need to revise and increase the allowable campaign spending limits. Doing 
so will not only benefit candidates by allowing them to run more effective campaigns 
but will also serve the public by enhancing voter education and raising awareness 
about candidates' backgrounds and platforms.
Additionally, the bill seeks to correct the terminology in the last paragraph of 
Section 13 of RA No. 7166, replacing the outdated term "gift tax" with the more 
accurate "donor's tax" in line with the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended.
In light of these considerations, the immediate passage of this proposed 
measure is respectfully sought. 
/
. MARCOS


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 AUG-7 P4:18
SENATE
S.B. No. 1127
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
INCREASING THE AUTHORIZED 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 
assembied:
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SECTION 1. Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7166 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"SECTION 13. Authorized Expenses of Candidates and Political Parties. - 
The aggregate amount that a candidate or registered political OR 
SECTORAL party, ORGANIZATION, OR COALITION OF PARTIES may
spend for election campaign shall be as follows:
(a) For candidates. - [Ten pesos (PIO.OO)] FORTY-FIVE PESOS (P 
45.00) for President and Vice-President; FOR SENATORIAL 
CANDIDATES AND PARTY-LISTS GROUPS, FOURTEEN PESOS (P 
14.00); and for other candidates, [Three Pesos (P-3.00)] FORTY-FIVE 
PESOS (P 45.00) for every voter currently registered in the constituency 
where he filed his certificate of candidacy: Provided, That a candidate 
without any political party and without support from any political party may 
be allowed to spend [Five Pesos (PS.OO)] FIFTY-FIVE PESOS (P 55.00) 
for every such voter; [arid] PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT IF THE 
AUTHORIZED EXPENSE IS LESS THAN FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND 
PESOS (P 500,000) AFTER MULTIPLYING THE PRESCRIBED 
AMOUNT PER VOTER TO THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED 
VOTERS IN A CANDIDATE'S CONSTITUENCY, THE CANDIDATE 
SHALL HAVE THE OPTION OF SPENDING MORE THAN THE


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PRESCRIBED AMOUNT BUT IN NO CASE SHALL THE TOTAL 
AMOUNT EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P 500,000).
(b) For political parties NOT PARTICIPATING IN PARTY-LIST 
ELECTIONS. - [Five pesos (P5.00)] TWENTY-THREE PESOS (P 23.00) 
for every voter currently registered in the constituency or constituencies 
where it has official candidatesCrJ;
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, SECTORAL PARTY, OR SECTORAL ORGANIZATION for
campaign purposes, duly reported to the Commission shall not be subject 
to the payment of any [gift tax] DONOR'S TAX: PROVIDED, FURTHER, 
THAT UNUTILIZED OR EXCESS CAMPAIGN FUNDS SHALL BE 
SUBJECT TO INCOME TAX, UNLESS THE CANDIDATE, POLITICAL 
PARTY, OR PARTY-LIST GROUP RETURNS THE UNUTILIZED OR 
EXCESS CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO ONE OR MORE DONORS: 
PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT EVERY PERSON MAKING ELECTION 
CONTRIBUTIONS NOT EXCEEDING TEN THOUSAND PESOS (P 
10,000) SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE REPORTORIAL 
REQUIREMENT IMPOSED IN THE PRECEDING SECTION OF THIS 
CODE. HOWEVER, THE CANDIDATE, PARTY-LIST GROUP, OR 
POLITICAL PARTY RECEIVING SUCH CONTRIBUTION SHALL 
STILL INCLUDE SUCH DE MINIMIS CONTRIBUTION IN ITS 
RECORD OF CONTRIBUTIONS AS MENTIONED IN SECTION 106 
(B) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BILANG 881.
EVERY SIX (6) YEARS FROM THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, THE 
COMMISSION, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF 
ECONOMIC PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND THE PHILIPPINE 
STATISTICS AUTHORITY, SHALL REVIEW AND, IF NECESSARY, 
RECOMMEND TO CONGRESS NEW AMOUNTS OF AUTHORIZED 
EXPENSES UNDER THIS SECTION BASED ON THE OFFICIAL 
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX."
SEC. 2. Separability Clause. - Should any part of this Act be declared 
unconstitutional, the other parts not affected thereby shall remain valid and effective.
SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or portions 
thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, 
amended, or modified accordingly.
SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,