Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4191

HOUSE BILL

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE NOEL L. VILLANUEVA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is worthy to mention that Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 otherwise known as the Omnibus
Election Code of the Philippines explicitly limited the expenses of candidates and political
parties to level the playing field between the poor and moneyed candidates. Under the said law
which was enacted in 1985, a candidate was allowed to spend for his election campaign an
aggregate amount of not exceeding one peso and fifty centavos for every voter while the
accredited political party was also allowed to spend a similar amount for the election campaign
of its candidates.

However, six years later, or in 1991, the limitations upon expenses of candidates and
political parties were adjusted under Republic Act No. 7166 thereby explicitly amended Sections
100 and 101 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines that effectively increased the
authorized campaign expenditure of candidates for every voter from P1.50 to P3.00 and of
political parties for every voter from P1.50 to P5.00.

It must be noted that the election campaign expenditures were adjusted in 1991 by virtue
of Republic Act No. 7166 to more than double only six (6) years after its effectivity in 1985.
However, no adjustment has been made until now or twenty-four (24) years later.

The fundamental objective of this bill is to make the authorized campaign expenses for
all the candidates and political parties to a more realistic level in the light of economic
developments that had eroded the purchasing power of the Philippine Peso. This would save the
candidates from being penalized on the basis of an antiquated law.

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

Cees

NOEL L, VILLANUEVA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
4191

HOUSE BILL

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE NOEL L. VILLANUEVA

“AN ACT
INCREASING THE AUTHORIZED CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES OF CANDIDATES
AND POLITICAL PARTIES AND DEFINING AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR
THIS PURPOSE, AMENDING SECTION 13 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7166,
ENTITLED, “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR SYCHRONIZED 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 of Republic Act No. 7166 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 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 ~ Fifty pesos (P50.00) for President ; forty pesos (40.00) for Vice-
President; thirty pesos (P30.00) for Senator, District Congressman, Governor, Vice-governor,
Board Member, Mayor, Vice-mayor and Councilor; and ten pesos (P10.00) for party-list parties
for every voter currently registered in the constituency where the candidate filed the certificate of
candidacy: Provided, that, an independent candidate or a candidate without any political party
and without support from any political party may be allowed to spend forty pesos (P40.00) for
every such voter; and

“(b) For political parties — Thirty pesos (P30.00) for every voter currently registered in
the constituency or constituencies where it has official candidates.

“For purposes of this Act, an independent candidate is further defined as one who:

“(A) Is not nominated by a duly registered political party or coalition of political parties
or its duly authorized representative;

“(B) Is issued a Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) that has been
submitted by a political party or coalition of political parties not duly registered with the
Commission on Elections (COMELEC),


“(C) Repudiates a nomination issued by a duly registered political party or coalition of
political parties at any time before the date of elections;

“(D) Accepts a nomination from more than one duly registered political party for the
same constituency, except in cases of coalition of said political parties;

“(E) Files a CONA after the deadline for the filing of Certificate of Candidacy (COC);
“(F) Files a COC without a CONA;

“(G) Is issued a CONA that is subsequently cancelled, revoked, withdrawn or substituted
by the nominating party at any time before the date of the elections; or

“(H) Is nominated by a duly registered political party or coalition of political parties but
which nomination is denied due course by the COMELEC.

“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 tax.”

SEC. 2. The COMELEC shall, within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act,
promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act.

SEC. 3. If any provision or part hereof is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this
Act or any provision not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 4. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect immediately after its publication in the Official Gazette
or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,