NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
S.B. NO.
iP TIME:
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
AMENDING SECTIONS 3, 4 AND 6 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9006 ALSO 
KNOWN AS THE FAIR ELECTIONS ACT TO INCLUDE STATIC AND LED 
BILLBOARDS AND OTHER OUTDOOR ADVERTISING MEDIA AS LAWFUL
ELECTION PROPAGANDA
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The form of expression is just as important as the information conveyed that it 
forms part of the expression.1
As elections have evolved due to technological advancements, so too have the 
means through which political candidates convey their message to the public. Outdoor 
advertising, particularly static and LED billboards, provides visually compelling 
platforms for political candidates to convey their message to the public. Unlike radio 
or television advertisements where the ads are displayed for only short moments at a 
time, advertisements through LED or static billboards allow candidates and parties to 
promote their platforms for much longer durations. Just as important, LED or static 
billboards allow for larger displays of the message being conveyed. The effect of all 
these is that there is a better possibility that the message being conveyed will reach 
its intended audience.
In addition, contracting or leasing a billboard spot is generally cheaper than 
contracting advertisements in radio, television, and newspapers. Hence, campaigning 
through outdoor media like static and LED billboards helps level the playing field for 
candidates, parties, and causes which have limited resources. Indeed, these media 
have the potential to enhance fairness, inclusivity, and transparency in the electoral 
process.
Diocese of Bacolod vs. COMELEC and Atty. Majarucon, G.R. No. 205728, January 21,2015.


Unfortunately, static and LED billboards are not expressly included in the list of 
lawful election propaganda under Republic Act No. 9006 or the Fair Election Act. It is 
high time already to allow candidates and parties to include the aforementioned media 
as part of their campaign strategies. Thus, it is imperative to amend Republic Act No. 
9006 or the Fair Election Act to recognize the role of static and LED billboards, along 
with other outdoor advertising media as legitimate election propaganda.
sought.
In view of the foregoing reasons, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
/mEE R. MARCOS


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S.B. NO.___
TIME
BILLS
INDEX
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
AMENDING SECTIONS 3, 4 AND 6 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9006 ALSO 
KNOWN AS THE FAIR ELECTIONS ACT TO INCLUDE STATIC AND LED 
BILLBOARDS AND OTHER OUTDOOR ADVERTISING MEDIA AS LAWFUL
ELECTION PROPAGANDA
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Section 3 of RA 9006, as amended, also known as the Fair Elections Act,
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is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"Sec. 3. Lawful Election Propaganda. - Election propaganda whether
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on television, cable television, radio, newspapers or any other medium,
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INCLUDING OUTDOOR STATIC AND LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE
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(LED) BILLBOARDS AND MOBILE OR TRANSIT ADVERTISEMENT,
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is hereby allowed for all registered political parties, national, regional,
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sectoral parties or organizations participating under the party-list elections
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and for all bona fide candidates seeking national and local elective
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positions subject to the lamination on authorized expenses of the
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candidates and political parties, observance of truth in advertising and to
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the supervision and regulation by the Commission on Elections
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(COMELEC).
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For the purpose of this Act, lawful election propaganda shall
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include:
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3.1. Pamphlets, leaflets, cards, decals, stickers or other written or
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printed materials the size of which does not exceed eight and one-
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half inches in width and fourteen inches in length;


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3.2. 
Handwritten or printed letters urging voters to vote for or against 
any particular political party or candidate for public office;
3.3. 
Cloth, paper or cardboard posters whether framed, or posted, with 
an area not exceeding two (2) feet by three (3) feet, except that, 
at the site and on the occasion of a public meeting or rally, or in 
announcing the holding of said meeting or rally, streamers not 
exceeding three (3) feet by eight (8) feet in size, shall be allowed: 
Provided, That said streamers may be displayed five (5) days 
before the date of the meeting or rally and shall be removed within 
twenty-four (24) hours after said meeting or rally;
3.4. 
Paid advertisements in print or broadcast media: Provided, That 
the advertisements shall follow the requirements set forth in 
Section 4 of this Act; [af^d]
3.5. 
OUTDOOR AND STATIC OR LED BILLBOARDS OWNED BY 
PRIVATE ENTITIES OR PERSONS. FOR THE PURPOSE OF 
THIS ACT, "BILLBOARD" MEANS A SIGNBOARD, 
IDENTIFICATION, ILLUSTRATION, IMAGE, PICTURE OR 
ANY OTHER DEVISE FOR OUTDOOR ADVERTISEMENT 
CONSISTING OF A SUPPORT STRUCTURE, A DISPLAY OR 
MESSAGE AREA, AN OPTIONAL LIGHTING SYSTEM AND 
RELATED COMPONENTS INSTALLED ON LAND, BUILDING 
OR PROPERTY TO ATTRACT OR DIRECT ATTENTION TO A 
PARTICULAR PRODUCT, SERVICE, IDEA, INFORMATION, 
DESIGN, SYSTEM, ACTIVITY, INSTITUTION, BUSINESS, 
BELIEF AND/OR PERSONALITY. A STATIC BILLBOARD 
REFERS TO A TRADITIONAL BILLBOARD PRINTED ON A 
TARPAULIN OR SOLID BOARD WHILE LED OR DIGITAL 
BILLBOARDS ARE ELECTRONIC DISPLAYS THAT ARE 
CONTROLLED REMOTELY BY COMPUTERS."
3.6. 
MOBILE OR TRANSIT ADVERTISMENT ON PUBLIC 
UTILITY VEHICLES PROVIDED THAT THE ADVERTISMENT 
IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GUIDELINES OF THE LAND 
TRANSPORTATION AND FRANCHISING REGULATORY 
BOARD (LTFRB) FOR COMMERCIAL ADVERTISEMENTS.
3.7. 
ALL OTHER FORMS OF ELECTION PROPAGANDA NOT 
PROHIBITED BY THE OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE OR THIS 
ACT."


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SECTION 2. Section 4 of RA 9006 is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Section 4. Requirements for Published or Printed and Broadcast Election
Propaganda. -
4.1. 
Any newspaper, newsletter, newsweekly, gazette or magazine 
advertising, posters, pamphlets, comic books, circulars, handbills, 
bumper stickers, streamers, sample list of candidates or any published 
or printed political matter and any broadcast of election propaganda by 
television or radio OR ANY OUTDOOR ELECTION PROPAGANDA IN 
THE FORM OF STATIC OR LED BILLBOARDS OR 
MOBILE/TRANSIT ADVERTISEMENT for or against a candidate or 
group of candidates to any public office shall bear and be identified by 
the reasonably legible or audible words "political advertisement paid 
for," followed by the true and correct name and address of the candidate 
or party for whose benefit the election propaganda was printed or aired.
4.2. 
If the broadcast is given free of charge by the radio or television station, 
it shall be identified by the words "airtime for this broadcast was 
provided free of charge by" followed by the true and correct name and 
address of the broadcast entity.
4.3. 
Print, broadcast or outdoor advertisements donated to the candidate or 
political party shall not be printed, published, broadcast, or exhibited 
without the written acceptance by the said candidate or political party. 
Such written acceptance shall be attached to the advertising contract 
and shall be submitted to the COMELEC as provided in Subsection 6.3. 
hereof.
SECTION 3. Section 6 of RA 9006 is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Section 6. Equal Access to Media Time and Space. - All registered parties and
bona fide candidates shall have equal access to media time and space. The
following guidelines may be amplified on by the COMELEC.
6.1. 
Print advertisements shall not exceed one-fourth (1/4) page, in broad 
sheet and one-half (1/2) page in tabloids thrice a week per newspaper, 
magazine or other publications, during the campaign period.
6.2. 
(a) Each bona fide candidate or registered political party for a nationally 
elective office shall be entitled to not more than one hundred twenty 
(120) minutes of television advertisement and one hundred eighty (180) 
minutes of radio advertisement whether by purchase or donation.


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(b) Each bona fide candidate or registered political party for a locally elective 
office shall be entitled to not more than sixty (60) minutes of television 
advertisement and ninety (90) minutes of radio advertisement whether 
by purchase or donation.
"(C) EACH BONA FIDE CANDIDATE OR REGISTERED POLITICAL 
PARTY FOR A NATIONALLY ELECTIVE OFFICE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO 
NOT MORE THAN TWO (2) MONTHS OF OUTDOOR ADVERTISEMENT 
IN A CERTAIN STATIC OR LED BILLBOARD WHETHER BY PURCHASE 
OR DONATION, PROVIDED THAT A CANDIDATE OR REGISTERED 
POLITICAL PARTY CANNOT HAVE STATIC OR LED BILLBOARD 
ADVERTISEMENTS WITHIN A RADIUS OF ONE (1) KILOMETER FROM 
EACH OTHER."
"(D) EACH BONA FIDE CANDIDATE FOR A LOCALLY ELECTIVE OFFICE 
SHALL BE ENTITLED TO NOT MORE THAN ONE (1) MONTH OF 
OUTDOOR ADVERTISEMENTS IN EITHER STATIC OR LED 
BILLBOARDS WHETHER BY PURCHASE OR DONATION, PROVIDED 
THAT A LOCAL CANDIDATE OR REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTY 
CANNOT HAVE STATIC OR LED BILLBOARD ADVERTISEMENTS 
WITHIN A RADIUS OF FIVE HUNDRED (500) METERS FROM EACH 
OTHER."
"(E) EACH BONA FIDE CANDIDATE, WHETHER NATIONAL OR LOCAL, 
FOR ANY ELECTIVE POSITION MAY UTILIZE MOBILE OUTDOOR 
ADVERTISEMENTS IN PUBLIC UTILITY VEHICLES PROVIDED THAT 
THE DIMENSION OF THE ADVERTISEMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE 
GUIDELINES OF THE LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND 
REGULATORY BOARD ON TRANSIT ADVERTISEMENTS."
For this purpose, the COMELEC shall require any broadcast station or entity to 
submit to the COMELEC a copy of its broadcast logs and certificates of 
performance for the review and verification of the frequency, date, time and 
duration of advertisements broadcast for any candidate or political party. THE
COMELEC SHALL LIKEWISE REQUIRE ANY OUTDOOR COMPANY OR 
ENTITY TO SUBMIT TO THE COMELEC A COPY OF ITS CONTRACTS 
FOR ELECTION PROPAGANDA FOR THE REVIEW AND VERIFICATION 
OF THE FREQUENCY, DATE, TIME AND DURATION OF OUTDOOR 
ADVERTISEMENTS FOR ANY CANDIDATE OR POLITICAL PARTY."


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SECTION 4. The Commission on Election shall promulgate the necessary 
implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this 
Act.
SECTION 5. All laws, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with this 
Act, are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the 
Philippines.
Approved,