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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 5849

Introduced by the Honorable Ann K. Hofer

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC), with its more than 5,000 employees, is
the constitutional body mandated to ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible
elections. Sadly however, its important function in our society is somehow impaired primarily
due to its understaffed offices.

Municipalities in the provinces are all too familiar in seeing only two employees (one
Election Officer and one Election Assistant) in their local COMELEC offices despite the area
having more than 10,000 regular voters and thousands of youth voters who are qualified to vote
under the Sangguniang Kabataan. This inadequacy in manpower contributes to the very long
queues of people during voter registration period and election day.

Aside from the lack of manpower, its employees also suffer from disparity in salary
compared to their counterparts in other agencies. An Election Officer III, who heads a
COMELEC office in a municipality, receives compensation that is four to six Salary Grades
lower than those of a Public School District Supervisor, a Municipal Civil Registrar, and a
Municipal Treasurer.

Hence, in recognition of their important role in preserving our democratic processes,
this bill seeks to reorganize offices of the COMELEC, and reclassify and upgrade the plantilla
positions thereof.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

iN K- HOFER
istrict, Zamboanga Sibugay


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

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 5649

Introduced by the Honorable ANN K. HOFER:

AN ACT
TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS BY ENHANCING ITS
FISCAL AUTONOMY, REORGANIZING ITS OFFICES, UPGRADING EMPLOYEE
SKILLS AND AUGMENTING THEIR COMPENSATION, ALLOWANCES AND
BENEFITS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. 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 of employees with the ultimate goal of achieving equal pay for equal work in
government service. The independence of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) which
is guaranteed under Article IX(A)(1) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution would be further
enhanced and its operations would be more effective and efficient if its employees are better
compensated and its offices are better staffed and more secure.

SEC. 2. Field Offices. The Commission shall have the following field offices:

1. Regional Election Office, headed by the Regional Election Director with the rank
of Director IV (SG 28) and assisted by the Assistant Regional Election Director
with the rank of Director III (SG 27), Regional Election Attorney with the rank of
Attorney V (SG 25), Supervising Administrative Officer V (SG 22), Assistant
Election Specialist (SG 21), Accountant III (SG 19), Human Resource Management
Officer III (SG 18), Supply Officer III (SG 18), Stenographic Reporter III (SG 11),
Watchman (SG 7), Process Server (SG 5), Administrative Aide IV (SG 4), Utility


Worker (SG 3), Driver II (SG 3) and any such other subordinate officers or
employees necessary in the exigency for the said office.

.. Provincial Election Office headed by the Provincial Election Director with the rank
of Director II (SG 26), assisted by the Administrative Officer V (SG 18), Assistant
Election Specialist (SG 21), Computer Maintenance Technologist (SG 21),
Watchman, Administrative Aide, Utility Worker, Driver and any such other
subordinate officers or employees necessary in the exigency for the said office.

. 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 district as may be determined by the Commission which shall be
headed by a District Election Director (DED) with the rank of Director II (SG 26),
assisted by Assistant Election Specialist (SG 21), Computer Maintenance
Technologist (SG 21), Administrative Officer V (SG 18), Administrative Aide,
Watchman, Utility Worker, Driver and any such other subordinate officers or

employees necessary in the exigency for the said office.

|. City Election Office headed by the City Election Specialist with the rank of Director
1 (SG 25), assisted by the Assistant Election Specialist (SG 21), Computer
Maintenance Technologist (SG 21), Administrative Aide, Utility Worker and any
such other subordinate officers or employees necessary in the exigency for the said
office.

. Municipal Election Office headed by the Municipal Election Specialist (SG 24)
assisted by the Assistant Election Specialist (SG 21), Administrative Aide,
Watchman, Utility Worker and any such other subordinate officers or employees
necessary in the exigency for the said office.

. There shall be a minimum of two (2) Assistant Election Specialists in all City and
Municipal Election Office provided that for every additional 20,000 voters from
50,000 voters additional AES shall be automatically appointed.


7. There shall be a minimum of two (2) Assistant Election Specialists in all Provincial

Election Offices provided that for every additional congressional district in the
province, an additional AES shall be automatically appointed.

. There shall be a minimum of three (3) Assistant Election Specialists in all Regional

Election Offices provided that for every additional province in the region, an
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 through the heads of its field offices.

SEC. 3. Campaign Finance Department. —

1

In order to monitor the campaign contributions and expenditures of candidates and
political parties as well as investigate and prosecute violations of such laws relating
thereto, there shall be created a Campaign Finance Department (CFD) which will
be headed by a Director IV and assisted by a Director III.

. The CFD will also be complemented by a staff composed of Attorneys,

Accountants, Special Investigators, Administrative Aides, Watchmen and any such
other subordinate officers or employees necessary in the exigency for the said

office.

SEC. 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 upgraded accordingly by the COMELEC.

SEC. 5. Fiscal Autonomy. - The COMELEC shall enjoy fiscal autonomy.
Appropriations for the COMELEC may not be reduced below the amount appropriated for the

previous years and, after approval, shall be automatically and regularly released. The funds

necessary to support the grant of special allowances and benefits provided herein and to ensure

the effective implementation of this Act, may be sources from its savings and all other income,
fines, fees and revenues collected by the COMELEC.


SEC. 6. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act
shall be charged against the current fiscal year's appropriations under the budget of the
COMELEC including its savings. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued
implementation of this Act shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 7. Rules and Regulations. ~ Within ninety (90) days from the approval of this
Act, the Department of Budget and Management and the COMELEC shall adopt and issue the
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or other
issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect in fifteen (15) days after
publication in the Official Gazette or in one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the

Philippines.

Approved,