fr weteen
osPres,
ON

Soe Gs
f RECEIVED 4)

S
3

© ate 13 JUL 2015"

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HGUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by the Honorable Fredenil H. Castro

EXPLANATORY NOTE

For many years now, our election laws have not been responsive to the dynamics of the
changing times. One such statute in particular is Republic Act No. 7166 which provides for
the authorized expenses of candidates and political parties during election campaign

periods based on a per registered voter basis.

Section 13 paragraph (a) mandates that a candidate for the presidency and vice-presidency
may only spend ten pesos (P10.00) per registered voter. And for any other position, the
total of three pesos (P3.00) per registered voter is allowable unless the candidate does not
come from any political party and therefore without support from a particular machinery,
in which case, the candidate may spend five pesos (P5,00} per registered voter.

This is unrealistic and insufficient to say the least based on the many national and local
elections in the past. The actual financial expenditures of any candidate mounting an
election campaign are a violation of the present limitations. The law compels filing a report
that is a distortion if not a suppression of the actual figures.

As such, Section 13 paragraph (a) of Republic Act No, 7166 is hereby proposed to be
amended to be in keeping with the current Consumer Price Index (CPI) so as to encourage
candidates to declare their actual campaign expenses in the interest of transparency.

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



SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HOUSE BILL NO. 5928

Introduced by THE HONORABLE FREDENIL H, CASTRO

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7166, ENTITLED “SYNCHRONIZED NATIONAL AND
LOCAL ELECTIONS AND FOR ELECTORAL REFORMS” AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1, Section 13 paragraph (a) of Republic Act 7166 is hereby amended to read as follows:

SEC. 13. Authorized
[that] a candidate or regi
shall be as follows:

‘penses of Candiclates and Political Parties. ‘The [aggregate] amount
tered political party may spend [for] DURING THE election campaign

{a) For candidates.. FIFTY PESOS (PS0.00) [Ten pesos (P10.00)] for President; THIRTY
FIVE PESOS (P35.00) [and] for Vice-President [;] AND SENATORIAL CANDIDATES FOR EVERY
REGISTERED VOTER; AND FOR CONGRESSMAN AND OTHER LOCAL CANDIDATES FOR
PROVINCES, CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES OTHER CANDIDATES, THIRTY PESOS (P30.00}
[three pesos (p3.00}] lor 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 THIRTY-FIVE PESOS (P35.00)
[(P5.00}] for every such voter; and

SEC. 2, Separability Clause, - If any provisions or part of this Act is declared unconstitutional
such declaration of unconstitutionality will not affect the other provisions of this Act

SEC, 3. Amending and Repeating Clause. Batas Pambansa Bly, 881 specifically Section 100
and 101 thereof and all other laws, orders, decrees, rules and regulations or other issuances, or
any part thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended or repealed
ordlingly

SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shill take effect fifteen (15) days from the date of

publication in full in at least two (2) national papers of general circulation

Approved,