REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
QUEZON CITY 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____ 
_____________________________________________________ 
Introduced by 
REP. JOHNNY T. PIMENTEL 
_____________________________________________________ 
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PERTINENT PROVISIONS OF BATAS 
PAMBANSA 881, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "OMNIBUS ELECTION 
CODE", AS AMENDED, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The constitutional guarantee of independence for COMELEC has been tempered 
by Section 55 of the Omnibus Election Code. In particular, Section 55 of the Omnibus 
Election Code enjoins local government units to provide a suitable place for the office of 
the provincial election supervisor and his staff and the election registrar and his staff. 
It has given local government units the window of opportunity to compromise 
conduct of the local COMELEC’s functions. Inasmuch as the local COMELEC relies 
heavily on the LGU for institutional support, this also gives the LGU the opportunity to 
compromise the local COMELEC’s functions, by withholding, delaying or totally 
depriving it of institutional support. The same provision, which supposedly recognizes 
the LGU’s stake in election administration, lamentably acts as a sword of Damocles, and 
subjects the local COMELEC to the imminent and ever-present peril of lack of office 
space, manpower complement and funding for its operations. 
July 11, 2022
2:45 pm
1776


This measure seeks to endow a sense of integrity for COMELEC in fulfilling its 
Constitutionally mandated functions and responsibilities. 
 
The passage of this Bill is highly sought. 
 
 
 
JOHNNY T. PIMENTEL 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
QUEZON CITY 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____ 
_____________________________________________________ 
Introduced by 
REP. JOHNNY T. PIMENTEL 
_____________________________________________________ 
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, AMENDING FOR 
THE PURPOSE PERTINENT PROVISIONS OF BATAS PAMBANSA 881, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE", AS 
AMENDED, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1.  Statement of Policy. – The State hereby affirms and recognizes the independence of 
the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) as guaranteed under Article IX, Part A, Section 1 of the 
1987 Constitution. As such, the State shall ensure and preserve its integrity and independence by 
providing suitable office space for its field offices and with sufficient manpower complement. 
Section 2. Section 53, Article VII, of B.P. 881, otherwise known as the "Omnibus Election Code 
of the Philippines", as amended, is hereby amended to read as  follows: 
“Section 53. Field offices of the Commission. - The Commission shall have the 
following field offices: 
(1) Regional Election Office, headed by the Regional Election Director and assisted by the
Assistant Regional Director and such other subordinate officers or employees as the
Commission may appoint.
(2) [Provincial Election Office, headed by the Provincial Election Supervisor
and assisted by such other subordinate officers or employees as the 
Commission may appoint.] PROVINCIAL ELECTION OFFICE, HEADED BY 
THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION SUPERVISOR FOR EACH PROVINCE. 
EACH PROVINCIAL ELECTION SUPERVISOR SHALL BE ASSISTED BY 
AT LEAST ONE ELECTION ASSISTANT AND SUCH NUMBER OF 
ASSISTANTS AND SUBORDINATE OFFICERS AND SUBORDINATE 
OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES AS THE COMMISSION MAY APPOINT, 
PROVIDED, 
HOWEVER, 
THAT 
THE 
PROVINCIAL 
ELECTION 
SUPERVISOR SHALL HAVE THE SOLE AUTHORITY TO ENGAGE 
CONTRACTUAL PERSONNEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CIVIL 
SERVICE LAWS TO PERFORM ADMINISTRATIVE OR CLERICAL WORKS 
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANDATE OF HIS/HER OFFICE. 
(3) [City/Municipal Election Office, headed by the City/Municipal Registrar
who shall be assisted by an election clerk and such other employees as the 
Commission may appoint]. CITY/MUNICIPAL ELECTION OFFICE, 
1776


HEADED BY AN ELECTION OFFICER FOR EACH CITY, MUNICIPALITY, 
OR ELECTORAL DISTRICT. EACH ELECTION OFFICER SHALL BE 
ASSISTED BY AT LEAST ONE ELECTION ASSISTANT AND SUCH 
NUMBER OF ASSISTANTS AND SUBORDINATE OFFICERS OR 
EMPLOYEES AS THE COMMISSION MAY APPOINT, PROVIDED, 
HOWEVER THAT THE ELECTION OFFICER SHALL HAVE THE SOLE 
AUTHORITY 
TO 
ENGAGE 
CONTRACTUAL 
PERSONNEL 
IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANDATE OF HIS/HER OFFICE. 
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 3. A new Section 53-A, is hereby inserted in Article VII of B.P. 881, otherwise known as 
the "Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines", as amended, to read as follows: 
“Section 53-A. AUTOMATIC CREATION OF POSITIONS OF ELECTION 
OFFICERS. - WHENEVER NEW CITIES, MUNICIPALITIES AND ELECTORAL 
DISTRICTS ARE CREATED, THERE SHALL BE AUTOMATICALLY CREATED FOR 
THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY, POSITIONS OF ELECTION OFFICERS AND 
ELECTION ASSISTANTS IN SUCH NUMBER AS DETERMINED PURSUANT TO 
THE RATIO ESTABLISHED IN THE SUCCEEDING SECTION.” 
Section 4. A new Section 53-B, is hereby inserted in Article VII of B.P. 881, otherwise known as 
the "Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines", as amended, to read as follows: 
 
“Section 53-B. RATIO OF ELECTION ASSISTANTS TO REGISTERED VOTERS. – 
THERE SHALL BE A CORRESPONDING NUMBER OF ELECTION ASSISTANT 
POSITIONS AT THE RATIO OF ONE ELECTION ASSISTANT FOR EVERY TWENTY 
THOUSAND (20, 000) REGISTERED VOTERS. 
 
 
Section 5. A new Section 53-C, is hereby inserted in Article VII of B.P. 881, otherwise known as 
the "Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines", as amended, to read as follows: 
 
“Section 53-C. NO OTHER PERSONNEL, OTHER THAN THOSE MENTIONED 
IN SECTION 53 HEREOF, OR EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED BY LAW, SHALL BE 
ASSIGNED, DESIGNATED, ENGAGED OR DETAILED AT THE COMMISSION’S 
FIELD OFFICES, OR SHALL BE ALLOWED TO PERFORM ADMINISTRATIVE OR 
CLERICAL WORKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANDATE OF THE FIELD 
OFFICES. VIOLATION OF THIS PROVISION SHALL CONSTITUTE AN 
ELECTION OFFENSE”. 
 
Section 6. Section 55, Article VII of B.P. 881, otherwise known as the "Omnibus Election Code 
of the Philippines", as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:  
 
[“Section 55. Office space. –The local government concerned shall provide a 
suitable place for the office of the provincial election supervisor and his staff and the 
election registrar and his staff: Provided, That in case of failure of the local 
government concerned to provide such suitable place, the provincial election 
supervisor or the election registrar, as the case may be, upon prior authority of the 
Commission and notice to the local government concerned, may lease another place 
for office and the rentals thereof shall be chargeable to the funds of the local 
government concerned.] THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS SHALL PROVIDE 
AN ACCESSIBLE AND SUITABLE PLACE FOR ITS FIELD OFFICERS AND 
THEIR STAFF, CHARGEABLE TO ITS YEARLY APPROPRIATIONS.” 
 
 
Section 7. Appropriation. –The initial funding to carry the present act into effect shall be 
charged against the current appropriations of the Commission on Elections. Thereafter, the 


amount necessary for the continued implementation and operationalization of the present act 
shall be included in the General Appropriations Act. 
 
Section 8. Transfer Plan. – Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, COMELEC shall 
formulate a Transfer Plan to transfer COMELEC Field Offices from the Local Government Unit 
(LGU) controlled facilities to COMELEC-owned or leased facilities. The plan shall provide for a 
complete transfer of all COMELEC Field Offices within five (5) years from the effectivity of this 
Act. 
 
Section 9. Repealing Clause. - All acts, laws, decrees, executive orders, letters of instructions 
and regulations or any part thereof which are inconsistent with any provision of this Act are 
hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly. 
 
Section 10. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any selection or provision of his Act is 
declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions of this Act which are 
not affected shall continue in full force and effect. 
 
Section 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication 
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.