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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
S. B. No. 1178
":-ixry  (©Hire o f fh fi^ J fV iT th ry
'16 OCT-3 PI :28
Introduced by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel HI
AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 13 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7166,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR 
SYNCHRONIZED NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS AND 
FOR ELECTORAL REFORMS, AUTHORIZING 
APPROPRIATIONS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES”
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act No. 7166, otherwise known as "'An Act Providing for 
Synchronized National and Local Elections and for Electoral Reforms, 
Authorizing Appropriations Therefor, and for Other Purposes f  which 
took effect in 1991, limits the campaign expenditure to PI0.00 for 
President and Vice-President, P5.00 for political parties and independent 
candidates, and P3.00 for other candidates for every currently registered 
voter.
For twenty five years, the amounts limiting the expenses of 
candidates and political parties remained the same. Consequently, 
candidates had difficulty in trying to limit their spending in accordance 
with law because prices of materials and their printing and reproduction, 
mass media advertisements (which are now allowed), transportation, and 
other operational expenses have noticeably increased in the past two 
decades.
According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, there was a 259.5% 
increase in prices of commodities from 1991 to 2015. The value of 
PI.00 in 1991 is now equivalent to P3.60. Also, the National Economic 
and Development Authority projected that the P3.00 used for election- 
related spending in 1991 is equivalent to P9.10 in 2016. These amounts 
show that the allowable limits for campaign spending are really 
outdated, most especially for local candidates who cannot take


advantage of “economies of scale” in their purchase of materials, 
printing requirements, and even mass media placements.
That COMELEC filed cases for overspending with courts against 
thirty-five (35) local candidates for the 2010 and 2013 elections proves 
that candidates are struggling to spend within the allowable amounts 
provided by law.
The best way to address the concern of our candidates, especially 
the local candidates, therefore, is to increase the amount of their 
allowable political campaign expenditure.
Political parties, however, should not be forgotten. Under existing 
law, they can spend P5.00 per currently registered voter in 
constituencies where they field candidates. The political parties are 
allowed to spend in order to help their candidates. Hence, local 
candidates with political parties could tap and should be encouraged to 
tap the assistance of their political parties. Candidates should be aware 
of the importance of political parties. This measure is in line with the 
proposed policy to institute reforms in the Philippine political parties to 
resolve issues of campaign financing, among others, to attain a mature 
and stable democracy.
This bill will also be beneficial to the voting public since the 
increase in the allowable campaign expenditure may lead to better 
voter’s education and awareness of the background and program of 
government (the “platform”) of the candidates.
In sum, the bill provides for the following increases in the 
authorized aggregate amount for the campaign expenditure of candidates 
and political parties for every voter currently registered in the 
constituency where the certificate of candidacy was filed:
• For Candidates with a Political Party or with support from a 
Political Party:
Position
From
To
President
PIO.OO
P20.00
Vice-President
PIO.OO
P15.00
Member, House of Representatives (Legislative 
District)
P3.00
PIO.OO
Governor, Mayor
P3.00
PIO.OO
Vice-Governor, Vice-Mayor
P3.00
P 8.00


Member, 
P3.00 
P 5.00
Sangguniang 
Panlalawigan, 
Sangguniang
Panlungsod, Sangguniang Bayan
• For Political Parties: from P5.00 to P20.00; and
• For Candidates without any Political Party or without support 
from any Political Party: from P5.00 to PI0.00.
As shown above, the respective amounts for single-seat positions 
are more than the respective amounts for multiple-seat positions. The 
reason for this is that the chances for winning a multiple-seat position 
are higher than a single-seat.
In addition, the respective amounts for local candidates are more 
than the respective amounts for national candidates because of the fact 
that the amounts assigned to the national candidates are multiplied on a 
nationwide scale by more than fifty million registered voters. Hence, 
national candidates benefit from economies of scale.
Notwithstanding the amounts provided above, it is the position of 
the undersigned that the amount of the allowable campaign expenditure 
of candidates for barangay elective positions should remain at P3.00 for 
every registered voter considering that barangay elections are non­
partisan, and hence, should be less “bloody” than the other elections.
Finally, the amendment on the last paragraph of Section IS of R.A. 
No. 7166 merely substituted the term “gift tax” with “donor’s tax” which 
is the proper term as used in the National Internal Revenue Code, as 
amended.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly 
requested.
ILINO “KOKO” PIMENTEL III


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E  
S.B. No. l l 'J ’S
■16 OCI -3 PI .-28
Introduced by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III
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AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 13 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7166, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 13(a) 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 party may spend for election campaign 
shall be as follows:
(a) 
For candidates. -  [Ten pesos (PIO.OO)] TWENTY 
PESOS (P20.00) for President; FIFTEEN PESOS (P15.00)
FOR [and] Vice-President; [and for other candidates] Three 
pesos (P3.00) for SENATOR AND PARTY-LIST; FOR 
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
REPRESENTING 
A 
LEGISLATIVE 
DISTRICT, 
GOVERNOR, AND MAYOR, TEN PESOS (PIO.OO) 
[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 (P5.00) 
for every such voter]; FOR VICE-GOVERNOR AND


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VICE-MAYOR, EIGHT PESOS (P8.00); FOR MEMBER 
OF 
SANGGUNIANG 
PANLALAWIGAN,
SANGGUNIANG 
PANLUNGSOD, 
AND
SANGGUNIANG BAYAN, FIVE PESOS (P5.00) FOR 
EVERY VOTER CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE 
CONSTITUENCY WHERE THE CERTIFICATE OF 
CANDIDACY IS FILED; AND
(b) 
For political parties. -  TWENTY PESOS (P 
20.00) [Five pesos (P5.00)] for every voter currently 
registered in the constituency or constituencies where it has 
official candidates.
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 for campaign purposes, 
duly reported to the Commission shall not be subject to the 
payment of any [gift] DONOR’S tax.”
SECTION 2. Separability Clause. Should any provision of this 
Act or part hereof be declared unconstitutional, the other provisions or 
parts not affected thereby shall remain valid and effective.
SECTION 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.
SECTION 4. Ejfectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect after 
fifteen (15) days from its publication in two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,