Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___
Introduced by Honorable Michael L. Romero 
  EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It is imperative that the state shall prioritize and provide the appropriate tools, 
means and funding in order for the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to 
perform its noble mandates: 
I. Policy and Planning
(1) Formulate, recommend and implement national election
policies, plans, programs and guidelines that will promote the 
development and use of modern mechanisms with due 
consideration to the advantages of convergence and emerging 
technologies; 
(2) Formulate election schemes and initiatives, in coordination
with all the other Department of the Executive, to develop and 
promote modern election mechanisms consistent with the 
national goals and objectives, and responsive to the ever 
growing number of voters; 
(3) Provide an integrated framework in order to optimize all
resources 
and 
networks 
for 
the 
identification 
and 
prioritization of all offices, systems and applications as 
provided for by the states Master plan and the Philippine 
Development Plan; 
July 1, 2022 
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II. Improved Access
(4) Prescribe rules and regulations for the establishment,
operation and maintenance of election infrastructures in the 
unserved and underserved areas, in consultation with the 
local government units (LGUs), civil society organizations 
(CSOs), private sector, and the academe; 
(5) Establish internet services in all its offices, using the most
cost-effective 
telecommunications 
technology, 
through 
partnership with private service providers as may be 
necessary; 
III. Resource-Sharing and Capacity-Building
(6) Harmonize and coordinate all national election plans and
initiatives to ensure knowledge, information and resource-
sharing, database-building and agency networking linkages 
among government agencies, consistent with the Government 
objectives in particular, and national objectives in general; 
(7) Ensure the development and protection of integrated
government election infrastructures and designs, taking into 
consideration the inventory of existing manpower, plans, 
programs, software, hardware, and installed systems; 
(8) Promote and provide technical expertise to all its offices in
the development of guidelines in the enforcement and 
administration of laws, standards, rules, and regulations 
governing it; 
(9) Assess, review and support research and development
programs of the government in coordination with all the other 
institutions concerned; 
(10)
Prescribe the personnel qualifications and other
qualification standards essential to the effective development 
and operation of election infrastructures and systems; 
(11)
Develop programs that would enhance the career
advancement opportunities of all Comelec workers; 


(12) Assist in the dissemination of all vital information
essential to its operations and organization; 
(13) Represent and negotiate for national interest on matters
pertaining to elections in international bodies, and other 
institutions concerned; 
IV. Voter Protection and Industry Development
(14) Ensure and protect the rights and welfare of its officers,
employees 
and 
personnel 
to 
privacy, 
security 
and 
confidentiality in matters relating to election concerns, in 
coordination with all other agencies concerned, the private 
sector and relevant international bodies; 
This House Bill seeks to provide additional organizational, operational and 
developmental funding to the COMELEC, to promote and hasten the imposition 
and implement laws, policies, plans, programs, projects, rules and regulations 
of the COMELEC; and to provide efficient services to the Filipino people. 
Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D.   


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___
Introduced by Honorable Michael L. Romero 
   AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL, 
OPERATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL FUNDING TO THE 
COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS (COMELEC), TO PROMOTE 
AND ENHANCE ITS ICT MECHANISMS AND PROJECTS, 
TO FOSTER AND ACCELERATE THE CONVERGENCE OF 
ITS ICT ENABLED FACILITIES, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines 
in congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. DECLARATION OF POLICY – It is hereby a declared 
policy of the state to appropriate additional organizational, operational and 
developmental funding for the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). 
The state shall hereby recognize: 
(a) The vital role of the COMELEC in nation-building;
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(b) To ensure the provision of strategic, reliable, cost-efficient 
and 
citizen-centric 
election 
technology, 
infrastructure, 
systems and resources; 
(c) To ensure universal access to quality, affordable, reliable 
and secure services; 
(d) To promote the development and widespread use of 
emerging new Comelec-ICT technologies; 
(e) To ensure the availability and accessibility of services in all 
areas; 
(f) To foster an Integrated and automated policy environment 
that will promote a broad market-led development of the 
election and ICT-enabled services; 
(g) To promote and assist the development of local and 
national election database-ICT content, applications and 
services which may include support for ICT-based start-up 
enterprises through strategic partnerships; 
(h) To promote the use of modern Comelec-ICT mechanisms 
and technologies for the enhancement of key public services, 
such as education, public health and safety, revenue 
generation, and socio-civic purposes; 
(i) To encourage the use modern Comelec-ICT mechanisms 
and technologies for the development and promotion of the 
country’s election procedures, and national identity; 


(j) To promote digital literacy, Comelec-ICT expertise, and 
knowledge-building among citizens to enable them to 
participate and compete in an evolving ICT age; 
(k) To empower, through the use of Comelec-ICT, the 
disadvantaged segments of the population, including the 
elderly, persons with disabilities and indigenous and minority 
groups; 
(l) To ensure the rights of individuals to privacy and 
confidentiality of their personal information; 
(m) 
To 
ensure 
the 
security 
of 
critical 
Comelec-ICT 
infrastructures 
including 
information 
assets 
of 
the 
government; and 
(n) To provide oversight, governance and regulating the 
Comelec-ICT sector and ensure voters protection and welfare, 
data privacy and security. 
Additional requirements shall be charged to the appropriations 
under the current General Appropriations Act (GAA). 
SECTION 2. APPROPRIATIONS – The amount of Five hundred 
million pesos (₱500,000,000.00) shall hereby be appropriated as 
additional organizational, operational and developmental funding to carry-
out the mandates of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). 
Thereafter, such sum as may be needed for the continued 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act (GAA). 


SECTION 3. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. – The 
departments and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of this 
Act shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate 
the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation. 
SECTION 4. REPEALING CLAUSE. – All laws, decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 5. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. – If, for any reason, any 
section or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other 
sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby. 
SECTION 6. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. – This Act shall take effect 
after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at 
least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation whichever comes 
earlier. 
 
Approved,