Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
 HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is the primary government agency 
responsible for the conduct of regular and special elections in the country. It is an 
independent and fiscally-autonomous body free from political interference or influence 
from the three branches of government, which makes possible the conduct of free, 
fair, and honest elections. 
However, this constitutional guarantee of independence could somehow be 
affected by Section 55 of the Omnibus Election Code which requires local government 
units to provide a suitable place for the office of the provincial election supervisor and 
his staff and the election registrar and his staff. 
Hence, this bill which seeks to ensure the integrity and independence of the 
COMELEC and remove any question on its impartiality by increasing the manpower 
component in its field offices, and providing office space separate and independent 
from the local government unit. 
An increase in its manpower and the provision of COMELEC offices will ensure 
that the COMELEC will not have to rely on the local government unit for institutional 
support and ensure that the COMELEC will function efficiently, independently and 
impartially. 
September 14, 2022
1:00 pm
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In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this measure is earnestly 
requested. 
MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
 HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS BY INCREASING THE 
MANPOWER COMPLEMENT IN ITS FIELD OFFICES, PROVIDING OFFICE 
SPACES SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 881, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1.  The State hereby affirms and recognizes the independence of the 
Commission on Elections as guaranteed under Article IX, Part A, Section 1 of the 
Constitution. As such, the Commission shall ensure and preserve its integrity and 
independence by increasing the manpower complement in its field offices, and 
providing office spaces separate and independent from local government units. 
SEC. 2. Section 53 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, as amended, is hereby amended to 
read as follows: 
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“Section 53.  Field offices of the Commission. - The Commission shall 
have the following field offices: 
(1) Regional Election Office, headed by the Regional Election Director 
and assisted by the Assistant Regional Director and such other 
subordinate officers or employees as the Commission may appoint[.], 
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORGANIZATION, STAFFING, 
POSITION 
CLASSIFICATION 
AND 
COMPENSATION 
STANDARDS. 
(2) [Provincial Election Office, headed by the Provincial Election 
Supervisor and assisted by such other subordinate officers or 
employees as the Commission may appoint] PROVINCIAL 
ELECTION OFFICE, HEADED BY THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION 
SUPERVISOR FOR EACH PROVINCE. EACH PROVINCIAL 
ELECTION SUPERVISOR SHALL BE ASSISTED BY AT LEAST 
ONE (1) ELECTION ASSISTANT AND SUCH NUMBER OF 
ASSISTANTS AND SUBORDINATE OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES 
AS THE COMMISSION MAY APPOINT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH 
THE ORGANIZATION, STAFFING, POSITION CLASSIFICATION 
AND COMPENSATION STANDARDS. A PROVINCIAL ELECTION 
SUPERVISOR IS AUTHORIZED TO HIRE CONTRACTUAL 
PERSONNEL TO PERFORM ADMINISTRATIVE OR CLERICAL 
WORKS FOR THE EXPEDIENCY OF SERVICE AND IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH CIVIL SERVICE LAWS. 
 (3) [City, Municipal Election Office, headed by the City, Municipal 
Registrar who shall be assisted by an election clerk and other 
employees as the Commission may appoint] CITY, MUNICIPAL OR 
ELECTORAL DISTRICT ELECTION OFFICE, HEADED BY THE 
CITY, MUNICIPAL OR ELECTORAL DISTRICT ELECTION 
OFFICER FOR EACH CITY, MUNICIPALITY OR ELECTORAL 
DISTRICT.  THE CITY, MUNICIPAL OR ELECTORAL DISTRICT 
ELECTION OFFICER SHALL BE ASSISTED BY AT LEAST LONE 
(1) ELECTION ASSISTANT AND SUCH NUMBER OF ASSISTANTS 
AND SUBORDINATE OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES AS THE 
COMMISSION MAY APPOINT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 


 
 
 
ORGANIZATION, STAFFING, POSITION CLASSIFICATION AND 
COMPENSATION STANDARDS.  AN ELECTION OFFICER IS 
AUTHORIZED TO HIRE CONTRACTUAL PERSONNEL TO 
PERFORM ADMINISTRATIVE OR CLERICAL WORK FOR THE 
EXPEDIENCY OF SERVICE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 
CIVIL SERVICE LAWS.  
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. New sections to be denominated as Sections 53-A and 53-B are hereby 
inserted after Section 53 of the same Act to read as follows: 
 
“SECTION 53-A. AUTOMATIC CREATION OF POSITIONS OF 
ELECTION OFFICERS AND ELECTION ASSISTANTS. – IF A NEW 
CITY, MUNICIPALITY OR ELECTORAL DISTRICT IS CREATED, 
THE POSITIONS OF ELECTION OFFICER AND ELECTION 
ASSISTANTS 
ARE 
AUTOMATICALLY 
CREATED, 
IN 
ACCORDANCE 
WITH 
THE 
ORGANIZATION, 
STAFFING, 
POSITION CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION STANDARDS 
AND SUBJECT TO THE SUBMISSION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF 
BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT (DBM) OF A RESOLUTION 
STATING THE CHANGES IN THE ORGANIZATION AND 
STAFFING. THERE MUST BE ONE (1) ELECTION ASSISTANT 
FOR EVERY TWENTY THOUSAND (20,000) REGISTERED 
VOTERS. 
 
SECTION 53-B. ASSIGNMENT IN FIELD OFFICE. – NO OTHER 
PERSONNEL, EXCEPT THOSE MENTIONED IN SECTION 53- OF 
THIS ACT OR EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED BY LAW, MAY BE 
ASSIGNED, DESIGNATED OR DETAILED AT ANY FIELD OFFICE 
OF 
THE 
COMMISSION. 
ANY 
PERSONNEL 
PERFORMING 
ADMINISTRATIVE OR CLERICAL WORK MAY ONLY BE HIRED 


 
 
 
BY THE HEAD OF THE FIELD OFFICE. VIOLATION OF THIS 
PROVISION CONSTITUTES AN ELECTION OFFENSE.” 
 
SEC. 4. Section 55 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:  
 
“Section 55. Office space. – [The local government concerned shall 
provide a suitable place for the office of the provincial election 
supervisor and his staff and the election registrar and his staff: 
Provided, That in case of failure of the local government concerned to 
provide such suitable place, the provincial election supervisor or the 
election registrar, as the case may be, upon prior authority of the 
Commission and notice to the local government concerned, may lease 
another place for office and the rentals thereof shall be chargeable to 
the funds of the local government concerned.] THE COMMISSION 
SHALL PROVIDE SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT OFFICE 
SPACES FOR ITS FIELD OFFICES, THE COST OF WHICH SHALL 
BE CHARGED TO ITS YEARLY APPROPRIATIONS.” 
 
SEC. 5. The initial amount for the implementation of this Act shall be charged against 
the current available appropriations of the Commission. Thereafter, the funding of 
which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 6. Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, the Commission shall 
formulate a plan to transfer its field offices from the facilities of local government units 
to the facilities owned or leased by the Commission.  The plan shall provide for a 
complete transfer of all field offices of the Commission within five (5) years from the 
effectivity of this Act. 
 
SEC. 7. Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Chairperson of the 
Commission shall, in coordination with the Secretary of the Interior and Local 
Government and the Secretary of Budget and Management, promulgate the rules and 
regulations implementing the provision of this Act. 
 


 
 
 
SEC. 8. If any portion or provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the 
remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in force and 
effect.  
 
SEC. 9. All other laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive orders, issuances, 
presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are contrary 
to and inconsistent with any provision of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or 
modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 10. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,