Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENATATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No_550

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill which seeks to amend Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7166, entitled, “An Act
Increasing the Authorized Campaign Expenditures of Candidates and Political Parties and Defining
an Independent Candidate for this Purpose, Amending Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7166,
Entitled, ‘An Act Providing for Synchronized National and Local Elections and for Electoral
Reforms, Authorizing Appropriations Therefore, and For Other Purposes" has already been
approved by the House of Representatives on its 3" and final reading in the 17 Congress. To date,
it has not yet been enacted into law. Due to its significance as an integral part of electoral reforms,
there is a need to refile this bill to address the financial expenditures of every candidate in every
national and local elections.

The authorized expenditure provided under Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7166 allows a
candidate for a President and Vice-President to only spend ten pesos (P10.00) per registered voter.
For other positions, except for an independent candidate who is allowed to spend five pesos (PS.00)
for every registered voter, all candidates are allowed to spend three pesos (P3.00) for every
registered voter. For political parties, they are allowed to spend five pesos (P5.00) for every voter
currently registered in the constituency or constituencies where they have official candidates.

‘The authorized amounts under Republic Act 7166 need to be amended as they are
unrealistic, restrictive, insufficient, and impractical. Given the past electoral exercises, the
expenditure limitations allowed under Republic Act 7166 can no longer accurately reflect the actual
expenditures spent by candidates.

Hence, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

wan oon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENATATIVES,
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
Regular Session

5
HOUSE BILL No_999

AN ACT INCREASING THE AUTHORIZED CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES OF
CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL PARTIES AND DEFINING AN INDEPENDENT
CANDIDATE FOR THIS PURPOSE, AMENDING 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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7166 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 13. 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:

“(a) For candidates - [Ten] FIFTY pesos {(P10.00)] (P50.00) for President [and];
FORTY PESOS (P40.00) For Vice-President; THIRTY PESOS (P30.00) FOR
SENATORS, DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN, GOVERNOR, VICE-GOVERNOR,
BOARD MEMBERS, MAYOR, VICE-MAYOR AND COUNCILORS; AND TEN
PESOS (P10.00) FOR PARTY-LIST PARTIES [and for other candidates, Three pesos
(P3.00) for every voter currently registered in the constituency where [he] THE
CANDIDATE filed [his] THE certificate of candidacy:

Provided, That, AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE OR a candidate without any


political party and without support from any political party may be allowed to spend [Five]
FORTY pesos [PS.00)] (P40.00) for every such voter; and
For political parties - [FIVE] THIRTY pesos [P5.00)} (P30.00) for every voter
currently registered in the constituency or constituencies where it has official candidates.
"FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT, AN INDEPENDENT
CANDIDATE IS FURTHER DEFINED AS ONE WHO:

“(A) IS NOT NOMINATED BY A DULY REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTY OR
COALITION OF POLITICAL PARTIES OR ITS DULY AUTHORIZED RE-
PRESENTATIVE.

“(B) IS ISSUED A CERTIFICATE OF NOMINATION AND ACCEPTANCE (CONA)
THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY A POLITICAL PARTY OR COALITION OF
POLITICAL PARTIES NOT DULY REGISTERED WITH THE COMMISSION ON
ELECTIONS (COMELEC);

“(C) REPUDIATES A NOMINATION ISSUED BY A DULY REGISTERED POLITICAL
PARTY OR COALITION OF POLITICAL PARTIES AT ANY TIME BEFORE THE
DATE OF ELECTIONS;

“(D) ACCEPTS A NOMINATION FROM MORE THAN ONE DULY REGISTERED
POLITICAL PARTY FOR THE SAME CONSTITUENCY, EXCEPT IN CASES OF
COALITION OF SAID POLITICAL PARTIES;

“(E) FILES A CONA AFTER THE DEADLINE FOR THE FILING OF CERTIFICATE

OF CANDIDACY (COC);
*(F) FILES A COC WITHOUT A CONA;

“(G) IS ISSUED A CONA THAT IS SUBSEQUENTLY CANCELLED,REVOKED,
WITHDRAWN OR SUBSTITUTED BY THE NOMINATING PARTY AT ANY TIME
BEFORE THE DATE OF THE ELECTIONS; OR


“(H) IS NOMINATED BY A DULY REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTY OR
COALITION OF POLITICAL PARTIES BUT WHICH NOMINATION IS DENIED DUE
COURSE BY THE COMELEC.

“Any provision of the law to the contrary not withstanding, 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.”

SECTION 2. The COMELEC shall, within ninety (90) days after the affectivity of this Act,

promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act.

SECTION 3. If any provision or part hereof is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of
this Act or any provision not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 4. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts
inconsistent with the provision of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect immediately after Its publication in the Official
Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,