Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8191

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL L. ROMERO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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;

Il, 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;

Ill, 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; and

(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 Commission on Elections (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 passag€ of this bill is earnestly requested.

. ROMERO Ph.D.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. EE

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL L. ROMERO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL,
OPERATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL FUNDING TO THE
COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS (COMELEC), TO PROMOTE
AND ENHANCE ICT MECHANISMS AND PROJECTS, TO
FOSTER AND ACCELERATE THE CONVERGENCE OF 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 declared by
the state to appropriate additional organizational and operational

funding for the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

The state shall hereby recognize:

(a) The vital role of the COMELEC in nation-building;


(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;

(4) 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;


) 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;

(I) 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 (P500,000,000.00) 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,