Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _6055

Introduced by : Cong. George P. Armaiz

NAT

Batos Pambansa Big. 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 amending 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 is worthy to mention that the latest adjustment of election
campaign expenditures was in 1191, by virtue of Republic Act No. 7166,
to more than double six (6) years after its effectivity in 1985. Since then,
no adjustment has been made until now or twenty four (24) years later.

In recent press statement, Chairman Andres Bautista and some
commissioners of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) urged the
members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives to
increase the authorized campaign expenditures of candidates and
political parties to a more realistic level.

The bill therefore seeks to increase the authorized campaign
expenses as follows: For candidates for the position of President and
Vice-President from P10.00 to P50.00; and for other candidates, from
three pesos (P 3.00) to fifteen pesos (P 15.00) for every voter currently
registered in the constituency where he filed his candidacy; for a
candidate without any polifical party and without support from any


political party, five pesos (P5.00) to twenty five pesos (P 25.00) for every
such voter; and for political parties from five pesos (P5.00) to twenty
five pesos (P25.00) for every currently registered in the constituency or
constituencies where it has official candidates.

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 and to falsify some of their expenditures in ordetteescape liability.

In view of the foregoing provisions, 7€ approval of this bill is

earnestly recommended.

Representative
2rd District, Oriental Negros


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
‘Third Regular Session

6055

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: Cong. George P. Arnaiz

AN ACT
INCREASING THE AUTHORIZED EXPENSES OF CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL
PARTIES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 13 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO.
7166, ENTITLED, “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 14 of Republic Act No. 7166 is hereby
amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 14, Authorized Expenses of Candidates and Political
Parties. - The aggregate amount that a candidate or registered
political party may spend for election campaign shall be os
follows:

For candidates.- [Ten] FIFTY Pesos (P[1]50.00) for President
and Vice-President; and for other candidates, [Three] FIFTEEN
Pesos (P[3]15.00) for every voter currently registered in the
constituency where he filed his candidacy; Provided, That a
candidate without any political party and without support from
any political party may be allowed to spend [Five] TWENTY FIVE
Pesos (P[5]25.00) for every such voter; and

For political parties. ~ [Five] TWENTY FIVE Pesos (P(5]25.00)
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
of coalition of parties for campaign purposes, duly reported to
the Commission shall not be subject to the payment of any gift
tax.”


SECTION 2. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) shall issue
the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act.

SECTION 3. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules
and regulations found inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended,
repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,