ssepuone oF ule FmUppines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 5563

Introduced by
Honorable Cristal L. Bagatsing

AN ACT

REORGANIZING THE COMELEC OFFICES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to bridge the wage disparity of COMELEC officials and
employees as compared to workers with similar qualifications in other
government agencies and Constitutional Commissions. For the longest time
they were burdened by the meager salary that they received, despite the huge
responsibility of running the elections in the country.

This bill proposes to upgrade the positions in the COMELEC in order to
cope up with the equal pay for equal work in government service.

Hence, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

HON, SAGATSING


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _ 5583

Introduced by HON. CRISTAL L. BAGATSING

AN ACT
REORGANIZING THE COMELEC OFFICES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as “An Act Reorganizing COMELEC
Offices”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — In accordance with the equal protection clause of the
Constitution, 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.

SECTION 3. Field Offices. The Commission shall have the following field offices:

1, Regional Election Office, headed by the Regional Election Director and assisted
by the Assistant Regional Election Director, Regional Election Attomey with the
rank of Attorney V, Human Resource Management Officer, Budget Officer,
Finance Officer, Assistance Election Specialist, Stenographic Reporter Ill,
Process Server, Watchman Office, Administrative Aide, Driver and any such
other subordinate officers or employees necessary in the exigency of service for
the said office.

2. Provincial Election Office, headed by the Provincial Election Director similar to
the rank of Director II regardless of the number of registered voters, Computer
Maintenance Technologist/Specialist (CMT/CMS) with SG-24, Assistant Election
Specialist Administrative Aide, driver and any such other subordinate officers or
employees necessary in the exigency of service for the said office.

3. The National Capital Region shall be divided into five (5) administrative districts,
such as North, South, East, Central and Manila District or such number of
administrative district as may be determined by the Commission which shall be


headed administratively supervised by a District Election Director with the rank of
Director Il, Computer Maintenance Technologist/Specialist (CMT/CMS) with
SG-24, Administrative Assistant V, Administrative Aide, Driver and any such
other subordinate officers or employees necessary in the exigency of service for
the said office.

4, City/Municipal Office headed by the City/Municipal Election Specialist with the
rank of Director I regardless of their place of assignment.

5. There shall be a minimum of two (2) Assistant Election Specialists (AES)with
SG-21 in every city or municipality provided that for every additional 20,000
voters from 50,000 voters additional AES shall be automatically appointed.

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

SECTION 4. Reclassification and Upgrading of Plantilla Positions in the COMELEC
Main and Field Offices.-All the remaining rank and file plantilla positions in the
COMELEC main and field offices shall be reclassified and upgraded accordingly by the
Commission on Elections

SECTION 5. Rules and Requirements. — Within ninety (90) days from the approval of this
Act, the Department of Budget and the Commission on elections shall adopt and issue the
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 6. Appropriations. ~ The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this
Act shall be charged against the current fiscal year’s appropriations under the budget of the
COMELEC Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of
this Act shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

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

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or other
issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended,
or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. — this Act shall take effect in fifteen (15) days after
publication in the Official Gazette or in one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the
Philippines.

Approved,