/” RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES = / = NOV 18
Quezon City | tme;
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS d
First Regular Session
5524
House Bill No. id

Introduced by: Representative MANUEL JOSE M. DALIPE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The right to vote is a vital component of democracy. To help protect this right,
the Philippine Constitution mandated the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to
enforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of elections,
plebiscites, initiatives, referendum and recall.

Despite this gargantuan task, the foot soldiers of the poll body receive
unreasonably low wages compared with their counterparts in other government
agencies.

This situation caused the employees to organize the Comelec Employees’ Union
in 2012. For years, the Union has been asserting the employees’ right to adequate
remuneration that matches that of the standard in other government offices.

Thus, this bill seeks to address the concerns of COMELEC employees by
reorganizing the COMELEC offices, and reclassifying and upgrading its plantilla
positions.

In light of the circumstances, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

te)

MANUEL JOSE M/I)ALWE


Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 75524

Introduced by: Representative MANUEL JOSE M. DALIPE

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”.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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 Il, 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 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 functions or
order the implementation or enforcement of its orders, rulings, or
decisions through the heads of its field offices.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

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

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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,