HOUSE 1F REPRESENTATIVES

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSEOF REPRESENTATIV!
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First RegularSession

91

REGISTRATION UNIT
' BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Congresswoman Julieta R. Cortuna,
Representative, A TEACHER Party-list

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to provide Compulsory Insurance coverage for members of the Board of
Election Inspectors (BEI) as appointed by the Commission on Election every national or
local election.

‘The members of the Board of Election Inspectors play a very big and significant role in
insuring the public of a clean and honest election. History has shown us that there were
numerous election related violence committed against the life of these humble public
servants,

During the May 2007 elections, Nellie Banaag, a 42 year old public school teacher from
taysan, Batangas and serving as a BEI in the said election, was bumed to death by an
unknown group of men while she on her way to Taysan Town Hall to submit the ballot boxes
that was assigned to her.

In the same election year, there were reports that four public school teacher from
maguindanao were kidnapped to prevent them from exercising their duties. In the Province of
Abra, two teachers were wounded when they were attacked while transporting the ballot
boxes assigned to them

In the 1995 elections, Filomena Tatlonghari, a teacher in Batangas, was shot and killed
by men who snatched the ballot boxes she was protecting.

Most of these incidents remain unsolved and the families of these innocent BEls are left
in the dark without anything but memories of their loved one ~ heroes in their own way.

These teachers should not just be a part of statistic. We promulgate law that would
protect their (BEIs) future.

In view hereof, early approval of this bill is earnestly urged.

JUIGETA RXCORTU



Republic of the Philippines

HOUSEOF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

91

HOUSE BILL.

Introduced by Congresswoman Julieta R. Cortuna,
Representative, A TEACHER Party-list

AN ACT INSTITUTING A COMPULSORY INSURANCE FOR MEMBERS
OF THE BOARD OF ELECTION INSPECTORS FOR EVERY NATIONAL
AND LOCAL ELECTIONS

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

SECTION I. Short Title - This act shall be known as the “BEI Insurance Act of 2010.

SECTION 2. Compulsory Coverage - Coverage in the insurance shall be compulsory
for all persons receiving honoraria from the Commission as BEI, irrespective of appointment,
except members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police
deputized by the Commission to ensure free, orderly, honest, peacefull and credible election
Provided, however, that in case members of the AFP and PNP is appointed to act as BEI, he is
covered by the insurance provided for by this Act.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms - In this Act,
“Commission” means the Commission on Elections;
“BEI” means Board of Election Inspectors;

“GSIS” means the Government Service Insurance System;

“Election Related-Risk” means any death or injury happening on the occasion of or
during the performance of duties relating to the election;


“Beneficiaries” are the spouse until he or she remarries, the legitimate, legitimated or
legally adopted, and illegitimate children, who shall be the primary beneficiaries of the
member: Provided, That the illegitimate children shall be entitled to fifty percent (50%) of the
share of the legitimate, legitimated or legally adopted children: Provided, further, That in the
absence of the legitimate, legitimated children of the member, his/her dependent illegitimate
children shall be entitled to one hundred percent (100%) of the benefits. In their absence, the
parents who shall be the secondary beneficiaries of the member. In the absence of all the
foregoing, any other person designated by the member as his/her secondary beneficiary.

SECTION 4. Commencement/Termination of Coverage - The insurance coverage shall
commence from the time the insured is exposed to any election-related risk, starting from but not
limited to the acquisition of election paraphernalia and it shall be terminated upon the proper
turn-over of the same to the appropriate receiving officer.

SECTION 5. Payment of Premium ~ It shall be mandatory for the Commission to pay
the corresponding premium to be determined by the GSIS.

a) The Commission shall include in its annual appropriation the necessary amounts for the
premiums as determined by the GSIS.

b) It shall be mandatory and compulsory for the Commission to include the payment of the
premiums in its annual appropriations.

SECTION 6. Collection and Remittance of Premium — (a) The Commission shall
report to the GSIS the names of all its appointed or designated BEIs on a given election, their
corresponding appointment status, positions, honoraria and such other pertinent information as
may be required by the GSIS

(b) The Commission shall remit directly to the GSIS the required premiums within ten (10) days
after the constitution or appointment of the Board of Election Inspectors

SECTION 7. Benefits — Notwithstanding any benefits provided for by the GSIS or any
institution granting the same to the insured, the insured shall be entitled to the following benefits:

(a) Death Benefits - The amount of two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000) shall be awarded
to the beneficiaries on the first year of implementation of this law. Such amount shall be
reviewed by the GSIS every three years thereafter, but in no case shall be lower than the
above provided amount.

(b) Hospitalization Benefits - An amount not exceeding one thousand five hundred pesos
(P1,500) per day of hospitalization bills and other medical expenses shall be awarded to
the insured or the beneficiaries. Provided however, the total amount shall not exceed one
hundred fifty thousand pesos (P150,000). Such amount shall be reviewed by the GSIS
every three years thereafter, but in no case shall be lower than the above provided
amount.


SECTION 8. Administration of Funds - The funds collected by the GSIS shall not be
used for purposes other than what are provided for by this Act.

SECTION 9. Exemption from Tax and Legal Processes - Benefits paid by the GSIS
shall be exempt from all taxes, assessments, fees, charges or duties of all kinds. It shall likewise
be exempted from attachment, garnishment, execution, levy or other processes issued by the
courts, quasi-judicial agencies or administrative bodies including Commission on Audit (COA).

SECTION 10. Implementing Body — The Government Service Insurance System, as
created under Republic Act No. 8291, shall implement the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause - All laws, rules and regulations that may be
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 12. Separability Clause - If any of the sections or provisions of this Act is
adjudged invalid, all its other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force.

SECTION 13. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,
whichever comes earlier.

Approved.