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

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS.
Third Regular Session

6028

HOUSE BILL No. _____

Introduced by: REP. NOEL L. VILLANUEVA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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 year 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.

Ina recent press statement, Chairman Andres Bautista of the Commission
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.

It is worthy to mention 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 1985. However, no adjustment has been made until
now or twenty four (24) years later.


This bill therefore seeks to increase 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 (P3.00) to fifteen
pesos (P15.00) for every voter currently registered in the constituency where he
filed his candidacy; for a candidate without any political party and without
support from any political party five pesos (P5.00) to twenty pesos (P20.00) for
every such voter; and for political parties from five pesos (P5.00) to twenty five
pesos (P25.00) for every voter 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.

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

earnestly sought. oe

REP. NOEL L. VILLANUEVA.
Third District, Tarlac


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

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session ©
28
HOUSE BILL No. ____

Introduced by: REP. NOEL L. VILLANUEVA

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
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 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 as 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
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 Pesos
(P[5} 20.00) 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 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 Commission on Elections (COMELEC) shall issue the
necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act.

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regulations found inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or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

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

Approved,