Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18TH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 190

Introduced by Representative 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
perfu.m its noble mandates:

1. 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 moder. 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;

II]. 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 cbjectives 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 o1. 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 passgge of this bill is earnestly requested.

MIC! L. ROMERO Ph.D.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18TH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 9190

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 ITS ICT MECH¢.NISMS 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 fundii:g 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;

(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 folicy environment
that will promote a broad market-led development of the
election and ICT-enabled services;

(g) To promote and assist the development of jocal 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;


(i) 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;

(1) 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 essets 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 o. ganizational, 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 cr 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,