House approves bill seeking to increase limits on election spending

The House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading the measure increasing the limit of election campaign expenses per voter of candidates and political parties.

With 213 affirmative votes, six negative votes, and one abstention, the chamber approved House Bill 6095, amending Section 13 of RA 7166 or the act providing for the synchronized national and local elections.

In raising the amount of authorized election campaign expenses of candidates and political parties to a "more realistic level," the measure envisions that candidates will be encouraged to declare their true and actual election campaign expenses.

Under the measure, the aggregate amount of election campaign campaign expenses of a candidate or political party for every voter will be as follows:

• For president, vice president - P50 from previous P10;
• For senators - P50;
• For other candidates - P30 from previous P3 for every voter currently registered in the constituency where they seek to be elected and have filed certificate of candidacy.

Meanwhile, from the previous P5, political parties will be allowed to spend P50 for the respective national candidates and P30 for local candidates per voter.

The measure mandates the Commission on Elections, in consultation with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the National Economic Development Authority, and the Philippine Statistics Authority to adjust the amount of authorized election campaign expenses every six years considering inflation and consumer price index.

Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas, however, registered her opposition to the measure, as this will only give more advantage to candidates who have the means to run for office.

"This measure distorts the already skewed election playing field, to the benefit of rich and powerful political families who have the means to max out their campaign expenses, while eligible ordinary Filipinos had to make do with limited exposure," she said.

"Totoong hindi automatic na pera ang nagpapanalo sa isang kandidato sa eleksyon. Subalit sa kasaysayan ng eleksyon ng Pilipinas, malinaw ang mahahangong punto: susi ang rekurso at makinarya para mahalal sa posisyon," she added.

In reality, Brosas said there is a need to be more strict in the campaign spending of candidates and make it more democratic.

"Kailangang tiyakin na patas ang laban para sa malaki at maliit na pangalan," she added. -NB, GMA News