Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.2511

Introduced by
ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO,
BAYAN MUNA Party-List Rep. CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE,
Rep. FERDINAND GAITE and Rep. EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT,
GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS,
and KABATAAN Party-List Rep. SARAH JANE I. ELAGO

AN ACT
REORGANIZING THE OFFICES OF THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

For decades, the principle of “equal pay for equal work” has not been felt by
employees of the constitutional body, Commission on Elections (COMELEC). COMELEC
constitutes around 6,000 employees nationwide, the majority of whom are from the
rank-and-file receiving a mid- to low-level income. These employees express great
dismay at the glaring disparity of their current salaries compared to fellow government
employees with similar qualifications in other agencies, as well as other Constitutional
bodies. Thus, in 2012, the COMELEC Employees’ Union (COMELEC-EU) was organized to
lobby for substantial and just salary increases for election workers, among other
purposes.

In their research and consultations, the COMELEC-EU found that the disparity in
their salary schedule, which dates back to the 1990s, as opposed to those in other
agencies ranges from three to five salary grades (SG).

COMELEC lawyers, accountants, statisticians, and other professionals receive less
than their counterparts in other agencies and it is only in COMELEC where they are
classified as rank-and-file. For instance, COMELEC lawyers (Attorney Il, Election Officers
for cities, and Provincial Election Supervisors), are in SG 18, SG 21, or SG 24, receiving
40,637, 57,805 or 83,406 monthly, respectively. On the other hand, the Public
Attorney's Office gives SG 25 to SG 29 (P95,083 to ®155,030) to its Public Attorneys (PA |


to PA V), while clerks of court in the Regional Trial Courts are at SG 24 to SG 26 (P83,406
to ®107,444).

The duties and jurisdiction of Provincial Election Supervisors, who manage areas
with 500,000 to 1,000,000,000 voters, make them roughly equivalent to Division
Superintendents in the Department of Education (DepEd). The former are at SG 24
(P83,406) while the latter are at SG 26 (P107,444). Election Officers manage areas with
20,000 to 400,000 voters, making them similarly situated with DepEd’s District
Supervisors. The former are at SG 12 to SG 21 (P22,938 to 57,805).

Every step of the election process, from voters’ registration to the canvassing of
votes, is carried out because COMELEC employees toil all year round. They work even
harder during the four-month-long election season, and are additionally saddled by
flawed automation. It is unjust that poll workers—the very backbone of the democratic
exercise—are rewarded by government with salaries disproportionate to their vital roles.

Answering COMELEC employees’ call for decent salaries will also help insulate
them from graft and corruption during elections, and compensate them for the risks
they are forced to take due to election violence. This particular measure is supported by
the COMELEC-EU.

For these reasons, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Teaches Party-List

Rep. CARLOS ie T. ZARATE Rep. FERDINAND GAITE

BAYAN MUNA Party-List BAYAN MUNA Party-List
(ae
t
Rep. EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT rep. LENE D. BROSAS
BAYAN MUNA Party-List GABRIELA Women’s Party

JANE I. ELAGO.
IN Party-List



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, _0511

Introduced by
ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO,
BAYAN MUNA Party-List Rep. CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE,
Rep. FERDINAND GAITE and Rep. EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT,
GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS,
and KABATAAN Party-List Rep. SARAH JANE |. ELAGO

AN ACT
REORGANIZING THE OFFICES OF THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS

Be it enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as “The COMELEC Reorganization
Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - In accordance with the equal protection clause
of the Constitution, it is the State’s responsibility to provide adequate and
appropriate remuneration to employees with the ultimate goal of achieving equal
pay for equal work in government service.

SECTION 3. Field Offices. - The Commission shall have the following field offices:

(1) Regional Election Office, headed by the Regional Election Director and
assisted by the Assistant Regional Election Director, Regional Election Attorney with
the Rank of Attorney V, Human Resource Management Officer, Budget Officer,
Finance Officer, Assistant Election Specialist, Stenographic reporter Ill, Process Server,
Watchman Officer, Administrative Aide, ORED Driver and any such other subordinate
officers or employees necessary in the exigency of service for the said office.


(2) Provincial Election Office, headed by the Provincial Election Director
similar to the rank of Director Il regardless of the number of registered voters,
Computer Maintenance Technologist/Specialist (CMT/CMS) with SG-24, Assistant
Election Specialist, Administrative Aide, OPES Driver and any such other subordinate
officers or employees necessary in the exigency of service for the said office.

(3) The National Capital Region shall be divided into five (5) administrative
districts, such as North, South, East, Central and Manila District, or such number of
administrative districts as may be determined by the Commission. It shall be headed
and administratively supervised by a District Election Director with the rank of
Director II, Computer Maintenance Technologist/Specialist (CMT/CMS) with SG-24,
Administrative Assistant V, Administrative Aide, Driver and any such other
subordinate officers or employees necessary in the exigency of service for the said
office.

(4) City/Municipal Office, headed by City/Municipal Election Specialist with
the rank of Director | regardless of his or her place of assignment.

(5) There shall be a minimum of two Assistant Election Specialists (AES)
with SG-21 in every city or municipality provided that for every additional 20,000
voters from 50,000 voters, additional AES shall be automatically appointed.

The Commission may delegate its powers and functions or order the
implementation or enforcement of its orders, rulings, or decisions throught the heads
of field offices.

SECTION 4. Reclassification and Upgrading of Plantilla Positions in the COMELEC
Main and Field Offices. — All the remaining rank and file plantilla positions in the
COMELEC main and field offices shall be reclassified and their salaries upgraded
accordingly by the Commission on Elections.

In no case shall diminution of salaries and benefits be caused to any
employee.

SECTION 5. Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of
this Act, the Department of Budget and Management and the Commission on
Elections shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to implement the
provisions of this Act.

SECTION 6. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the initial implementation of
this Act shall be charged against the current fiscal year’s appropriations under the
budget of the COMELEC. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the


continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. — \f any provision of this Act is held unconstitutional,
all other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
presidential proclamations, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts

thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. —- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or one (1) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,