Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. _ 5270

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE FERDINAND L. HERNANDEZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC), in its performance of its duty to
enforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of elections in
the Philippines, plays a significant role as the premier guardian of the ballots. The
COMELEC has become instrumental in the declaration in the Constitution that
“Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them”.

Election workers labor all year round, in every step of the election process —
from voters’ registration to the canvassing of votes during election season. It is
unfortunate that for several years already, the almost 6,000 COMELEC employees
are burdened by their meager salaries, who suffer from the glaring disparity between
their salaries and their counterparts’ in the two other constitutional commissions, as
well as in other government agencies, in violation of the principle of “equal pay for
equal work” in government service.

This bill seeks to address the COMELEC employees’ call for decent salaries
through the reorganization of the COMELEC offices and the reclassification and
upgrade of the plantilla positions thereof, not only to allow them to provide for their
families, as well as to recognize their invaluable service to the country.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly s


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 5270

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE FERDINAND L. HERNANDEZ

AN ACT REORGANIZING THE OFFICES OF THE
COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS (COMELEC)

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as “An Act Reorganizing
the Offices of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).”

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
Attorney 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, ORED 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 li regardless of the number of registered


voters, Computer Maintenance Technologist/Specialist (CMT/CMS) with
SG-24, Assistant Election Specialist, Administrative Aide, OPES 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 and administratively supervised by a
District Election Director with the rank of Director ll, 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 | regardiess of their place of assignment.

5. There shall be a minimum of two 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 functions or order the
implementation or 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 Regulations. — 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) newspapers of general circulation
in the Philippines.

Approved