Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  4196 
Introduced by Representative MA. VICTORIA CO-PILAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This legislative measure aims to modernize the Philippines’ Barangay and 
Sangguniang Kabataan (BSK) elections by authorizing the Commission on 
Elections (COMELEC) to use an automated election system (AES). It amends 
existing laws, specifically Republic Act Nos. 8436, 9369, and 7166, to integrate 
this technology into grassroots-level polls, mirroring the automated process used 
for national and local elections. 
The traditional, manual process of counting and canvassing votes at the 
barangay and SK levels is often slow, prone to human error, and can be 
vulnerable to fraud. By introducing an AES, the law seeks to streamline the entire 
electoral process—from voting and vote counting to the final proclamation of 
winners. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
September 1, 2025
8:00 am


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  4196 
Introduced by Representative MA. VICTORIA CO-PILAR 
AN ACT 
AUTHORIZING THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS TO USE AN AUTOMATED 
ELECTION SYSTEM IN THE CONDUCT OF BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG 
KABATAAN ELECTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
8436, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9369, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7166, AND 
OTHER RELATED ELECTION LAWS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in  Congress 
assembled:    
SECTION 1.  Section 2 of Republic Act 8436, as amended by Republic Act 9369, is 
further amended to read as follows: 
“Section 2. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms 
shall mean: 
Xxx 
6. City/municipal/district/provincial/BARANGAY/SANGGUNIANG
KABATAAN certificate of canvass - a document in electronic and printed
form containing the total votes in figures obtained by each candidate in a
city/municipality/district/province/BARANGAY/SANGGUNIANG
KABATAAN as the case may be. The electronic certificate of canvass shall
be the official canvass results in the aforementioned jurisdictions;"
Xxx 
9.
Counting 
Center 
- 
a 
public 
place 
within 
the
city/municipality/BARANGAY or in such other places as may be
designated by the Commission where the official ballots cast in various
precincts of the city/municipality/BARANGAY shall be counted. Polling
places of voting centers may also be designated as counting centers;
Xxx”
2 


 
SEC. 2. Section 6 of Republic Act 8436, as amended by Republic Act 9369, is further 
amended to read as follows: 
“Section 5. Authority to Use an Automated Election System. - To carry 
out the above-stated policy, the Commission on Elections, herein referred 
to as the Commission, is hereby authorized to use an automated election 
system or systems in the same election in different provinces, whether 
paper-based or a direct recording electronic election system as it may 
deem appropriate and practical for the process of voting, counting of 
votes and canvassing/consolidation and transmittal of results of electoral 
exercises: Provided, that for the regular national and local BARANGAY, 
AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN election, which shall be held 
immediately after effectivity of this Act, the AES shall be used in at least 
two highly urbanized cities and two provinces each in Luzon, Visayas and 
Mindanao, to be chosen by the Commission: Provided, further, That local 
government units whose officials have been the subject of administrative 
charges within sixteen (16) month prior to the May 14, 2007 election shall 
not be chosen: Provided, finally, That no area shall be chosen without the 
consent of the Sanggunian of the local government unit concerned. The 
term local government unit as used in this provision shall refer to a highly 
urbanized city or province. In succeeding regular national, or local, 
BARANGAY, AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN elections, the AES 
shall be implemented nationwide.” 
  
SEC. 3. Section 11 (1) of Republic Act 8436, as amended by Republic Act 9369, is further 
amended to read as follows: 
“Section 11. Functions of the Technical Evaluation Committee. - Xxx 
1. The successful conduct of a field testing process followed by a mock 
election event in one or more cities/municipalities/BARANGAYS; 
Xxx” 
 
Sec. 4. Section 20 of Republic Act 8436, as amended by Republic Act 9369, is further 
amended to read as follows: 
“Section 20. Notice of Designation of Counting Centers. - The election 
officer shall post prominently in his/her office, in the bulletin boards at 
the city/municipal/BARANGAY/SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN hall 
and 
in 
three 
other 
conspicuous 
places 
in 
the 
city/municipality/BARANGAY, the notice on the designated counting 
center(s) for at least three weeks prior to election day. Xxx 
 
Xxx” 
 
Sec. 5. Section 25 of Republic Act 8436, as amended by Republic Act 9369, is further 
amended to read as follows: 
“Section 25. Canvassing by Provincial, City, District and Municipal 
Boards of Canvassers. Xxx 
 
Xxx 
 
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The district/provincial board of canvassers shall canvass the votes for 
president, 
vice-president, 
senators, 
members 
of 
the 
House 
of 
Representatives and elective provincial officials … Xxx 
 
THE BARANGAY BOARD OF CANVASSERS SHALL CANVASS THE 
VOTES 
FOR 
THE 
BARANGAY 
CHAIRPERSON, 
BARANGAY 
COUNCIL, SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN CHAIRPERSON, AND 
SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN COUNCIL BY CONSOLIDATING THE 
ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMITTED RESULTS CONTAINED IN THE 
DATA STORAGE DEVICES USED IN THE PRINTING OF THE 
ELECTION RETURNS. UPON COMPLETION OF THE CANVASS, IT 
SHALL PRINT THE CERTIFICATE OF CANVASS OF VOTES FOR 
THE 
BARANGAY 
CHAIRPERSON, 
BARANGAY 
COUNCIL, 
SANGGUNIANG 
KABATAAN 
CHAIRPERSON, 
AND 
SANGGUNIANG 
KABATAAN 
COUNCIL 
AND 
THEREAFTER, 
PROCLAIM THE ELECTED BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG 
OFFICIALS, AS THE CASE MAY BE. 
 
The BARANGAY, SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN, municipal, city, 
district, and provincial certificates of canvass of votes shall each be 
supported by a statement of votes. 
 
Xxx” 
 
Sec. 6. Section 26 of Republic Act 8436, as amended by Republic Act 9369, is further 
amended to read as follows: 
“Section 26. Number of Copies of Certificates of Canvass of Votes and 
their distribution. - (a) The certificate of canvass of votes for president, 
vice-president, senators, members of the House of Representatives, 
parties, organization or coalitions participating under the party-list system 
and 
elective 
provincial, 
MUNICIPAL, 
BARANGAY, 
AND 
SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN officials shall be produced by the city or 
municipal board of canvassers and distributed as follows: 
 
Sec. 7. Section 26 of Republic Act No. 7166, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“Section 26. Official Watchers. - Every registered political party or 
coalition of political parties, and every candidate shall each be entitled to 
one watcher in every polling place and canvassing center: Provided That, 
candidates for the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Sangguniang Panlunsod, 
or 
Sangguniang 
Bayan 
SANGGUNIANG 
BARANGAY, 
AND 
SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN belonging to the same slate or ticket shall 
collectively be entitled to only one watcher. 
 
Xxx” 
 
Sec. 8. Section 27 of Republic Act No. 7166, as amended by Republic Act No. 8045 and 
Republic Act No. 8173 is further amended to read as follows: 
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“Section 27. Number of Copies of Election Returns and their Distribution. 
- Xxx  
 
(1) The first copy shall be delivered to the BARANGAY, city or municipal 
board of canvassers; 
 
Xxx” 
 
Sec. 9. Section 28 of Republic Act No. 7166, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“Section 28. Canvassing by Provincial City, District and Municipal Board 
of Canvassers. - 
(a) The city or municipal board of canvassers shall canvass the election 
returns of President, Vice-President, Senator and Members of the House of 
Representatives and for elective provincial and city, or municipal, 
BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN officials. Upon 
completion of the canvass, it shall prepare the certificate of canvass for 
President, Vice-President, Senators and Members of the House of 
Representatives and elective provincial officials and thereafter, proclaim 
the elected city or municipal officials, as the case may be. 
 
THE BARANGAY BOARD OF CANVASSERS SHALL CANVASS THE 
VOTES 
FOR 
THE 
BARANGAY 
CHAIRPERSON, 
BARANGAY 
COUNCIL, SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN CHAIRPERSON, AND 
SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN COUNCIL BY CONSOLIDATING THE 
ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMITTED RESULTS CONTAINED IN THE 
DATA STORAGE DEVICES USED IN THE PRINTING OF THE 
ELECTION RETURNS. UPON COMPLETION OF THE CANVASS, IT 
SHALL PRINT THE CERTIFICATE OF CANVASS OF VOTES FOR 
THE 
BARANGAY 
CHAIRPERSON, 
BARANGAY 
COUNCIL, 
SANGGUNIANG 
KABATAAN 
CHAIRPERSON, 
AND 
SANGGUNIANG 
KABATAAN 
COUNCIL 
AND 
THEREAFTER, 
PROCLAIM THE ELECTED BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG 
OFFICIALS, AS THE CASE MAY BE. 
 
Xxx” 
 
Sec. 10. Appropriations - Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall 
be charged against the appropriations of the COMELEC. Thereafter, the amount 
necessary for the continuous implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual 
General Appropriations Act. 
 
Sec. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the COMELEC, in cooperation with the Department of 
Information and Communications Technology, shall promulgate the rules and 
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
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Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
memoranda, rules, and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of 
this Acts are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
Sec. 13. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining parts of provisions not affected shall remain 
in full force and effect. 
 
Sec. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,  
6