· Not an official government website

BatasKo

Ang Batas, Sa Simpleng Salita — your rights, finally explained.

Republic Act No. 4168· Enacted 1964-08-08

RA 4168 Explained: The 1965 Election Funding Law — BatasKo ELI5

Ano ang RA 4168? Paano ginastos ang ₱44.5M para sa 1965 elections? Alamin kung paano ginagawa ng COMELEC ang libreng, malinis na halalan.

ELI5ElectionselectionsCOMELECvoter registration

Official text — Republic Act No. 4168

Jump to section ↓8 sections

Preamble

REPUBLIC ACT No. 4168

An Act Appropriating Forty-Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos to Defray the Expenses for the Registration of Voters, the Holding of the Regular Elections for President and Vice-President of the Philippines, Eight Senators and Members of the House of Representatives to be Held on the Second Tuesday of November, Nineteen Hundred and Sixty-Five and for Other Purposes Connected with the Administration and Enforcement of Election Laws

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1

Section 1.

There is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of forty-four million five hundred thousand pesos to be spent under the exclusive authority of the Commission of Elections, the of twenty-three million five hundred thousand pesos for payment of the expenses which may be incurred in connection with, and incidental to, the registration of voters and the sum of twenty-one million pesos for the holding of the regular elections on the second Tuesday of November, nineteen hundred and sixty-five, for President and Vice-President of the Philippines, for the eight Senators who will succeed those whose terms of office will expire on December thirtieth, nineteen hundred and sixty-five, and Members of the House of Representatives:

Provided,

That this appropriation shall immediately available to the Commission on Elections for expenditure therefor, and shall continue to be available after June thirty, nineteen hundred sixty-five, and thereafter until all the expenses in connection with the registration and the said elections shall have been paid, and shall be given priority of release upon request of said Commission on Elections:

Provided, further,

That out of this appropriation, the sum of two hundred fifty thousand pesos shall be used for the purchase of new motor vehicles for use by Commission personnel and should there be any additional need for vehicles the Commission on Elections is authorized to commander government vehicles:

Provided,

That the Commission on Elections shall shoulder the repairs and maintenance of said vehicles including per diems of personnel needed to man and operate the same:

Provided, further,

That the unexpended balance thereof, if any, shall be used for the payment of prior years elections obligations and for purposes connected with the administration and enforcement of the election laws and the furtherance of free, clean and honest elections as the Commission on Elections may order:

Provided, finally,

That the Commission on Elections shall submit to Congress a quarterly report of the expenses incurred out of the funds appropriated in this Act.

Section 2

Section 2.

The provisions of Republic Act Numbered Thirty-five hundred and eighty-eight to the contrary notwithstanding, if by March thirtieth, nineteen hundred and sixty-five, the total number of voters registered in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act Numbered Thirty-five hundred and eighty-eight, upon verification by and certification of the Commission on Elections, should be less than sixty per centum of the total number of registered voters in the elections of nineteen hundred and sixty-three, the Commission on Elections shall forthwith declare the registered voters in the elections of nineteen hundred and sixty-three as duly registered and qualified to vote in the elections of nineteen hundred and sixty-five:

Provided,

However, That should the registered voters of nineteen hundred and sixty-three be so declared the registered voters for nineteen hundred and sixty-five in accordance with the foregoing provision, new qualified voters shall likewise be allowed to register as provided for in Republic Act Numbered One hundred and eighty, as amended by Republic Act Numbered Five hundred and ninety-nine, exclusively for the elections of nineteen hundred and sixty-five at least sixty days preceding the date of the said elections:

Provided, further,

That the Commissioners on Elections shall simultaneously continue the work of registering voters under the provisions of Republic Act Numbered Thirty-five hundred and eighty-eight which register, when completed at least seventy days before elections and before the temporary registration of qualified voters for the elections of nineteen hundred and sixty-five as herein stipulated is started, shall then be used as the registered voters qualified to vote in the elections of nineteen hundred sixty-five: And

Provided, finally,

That after the elections of nineteen hundred and sixty-five only those voters duly registered in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act Numbered Thirty-five hundred and eighty-eight shall be qualified to vote.

Section 3 — The Commission on Elections shall, for the purpose of the registration of vote→

Section 3.

The Commission on Elections shall, for the purpose of the registration of voters, implement this Act down to precinct level as in the past and avail itself of the services of public school teachers to act as registration aides to perform ministerial functions under the immediate supervision of the municipal or city registrar:

Provided,

That teachers who have previously acted as election inspectors shall be given preference:

Provided, further,

That there are no pending administrative cases against said teachers, under the immediate supervision of the municipal or city registrar, and who shall each receive a reasonable rate of compensation to be fixed by the Commission for actual service to be paid from the appropriation authorized in this Act.

Section 4 — The Commission on Elections is hereby authorized to use such sums as may be ne→

Section 4.

The Commission on Elections is hereby authorized to use such sums as may be necessary from the appropriation authorized in this Act to standardize the salaries of its officials and employees in accordance with the rates fixed in its reorganization pursuant to Republic Act Numbered Three thousand eight hundred and eight:

Provided,

That such amount as may be necessary to cover the salaries and wages of regular officials and employee of the commission on Elections shall be included in the subsequent General Appropriations Act:

Provided, further,

That out of this appropriation, the sum of one hundred thousand pesos is released to the General Auditing Office for additional auditing services in order to augment the present personnel assigned in the Commission on Elections, the number of additional personnel and rates of compensation to be determined by the Auditor General.

Section 5 — Any provision of existing law to the contrary notwithstanding, the Commission →

Section 5.

Any provision of existing law to the contrary notwithstanding, the Commission on elections may authorize the payment of compensation from the appropriation authorized in this Act to its officials and employees, and those assigned thereto, except the Chairman and Members of the said Commission, for overtime services to be rendered on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, or after twelve thirty o’clock post meridian during half day sessions and after five o’clock post meridian on regular working days, in connection with the registration of voters and the said elections, at rate to be fixed by the Commission on Elections which shall not exceed the rates of their regular monthly compensation. Such additional compensation shall not exceed, for any one month, the equivalent of one-half of their regular monthly compensation.

1âшphi1

Section 6 — It shall be deemed a violation less serious of the Revised Election Code for a→

Section 6.

It shall be deemed a violation less serious of the Revised Election Code for any person or persons to offer cash or commodities or free facilities in the form of transportation, food, drinks, filming, or photographing or other services in connection with the registration of any individual.

Show 1 more section +→
Section 7 — This Act shall take effect upon its approval.→

Section 7.

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: August 8, 1964.

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

Full text on BatasKo. Original source: Official Gazette / Lawphil.

ELI5 Summary: Noong 1964, Congress approved ₱44.5 million para sa 1965 presidential elections — yung halalan kung saan naging presidente si Ferdinand Marcos. Ang pera ay para sa voter registration (₱23.5M) at sa mismong halalan (₱21M). Bukod doon, may rules din ito para sa mga guro na nagsilbing registration aides, at ipinagbawal nito ang pagbibigay ng libre para hikayatin ang tao na magparehistro — na tinatawag nilang "vote buying" kahit sa registration pa lang.

Real Filipino Scenario: Si Imelda at ang Trabaho Bilang Registration Aide

Si Imelda, 34 taong gulang, ay public school teacher sa Baguio City noong 1965. Excited siya nang mabalitaan na ang COMELEC ay naghahanap ng mga guro para maging registration aides para sa voter registration drive bago ang Nobyembre elections.

Under Section 3 ng RA 4168, ang mga public school teachers ay maaaring ma-hire ng COMELEC bilang registration aides — at binibigyan ng priority ang mga guro na nakaranas na bilang election inspectors sa nakaraang halalan.

Importante rin: ang guro ay hindi dapat may pending administrative case para makapasok.

Ano ang gagawin ni Imelda? Kausapin ang kaniyang school principal at ang municipal registrar para ma-confirm ang kaniyang eligibility. Kung walang pending case laban sa kanya, maaari siyang mag-apply. Ang kaniyang bayad — "reasonable compensation" na itatatakda ng COMELEC — ay babayaran mula sa appropriation na ₱23.5 milyon para sa voter registration.

What the Law Actually Says / Ano Talaga ang Sinasabi ng Batas

Ang Republic Act No. 4168, na nilagdaan noong August 8, 1964, ay isang appropriations law — ibig sabihin, batas na naglalaan ng pera para sa isang layunin.

Ilang mahahalagang probisyon:

Section 1 — Ang Pera

Inilaan ang kabuuang ₱44.5 milyon mula sa National Treasury, nahahati sa:

  • ₱23.5 milyon — para sa voter registration
  • ₱21 milyon — para sa mismong halalan ng Nobyembre 1965
  • ₱250,000 — para sa pagbili ng bagong sasakyan para sa COMELEC personnel

Ang COMELEC ang may exclusive authority sa paggastos ng pera. Hindi pwedeng sakupin ng ibang ahensya.

Kapag may natira pang pera (unexpended balance), gagamitin ito para sa nakaraang eleksyon na may utang pa (prior years elections obligations) o para sa pangkalahatang enforcement ng election laws.

Obligado rin ang COMELEC na mag-submit ng quarterly report sa Congress tungkol sa gastos.

Section 2 — Fallback sa Voter Registration

Ito ang medyo teknikal pero mahalagang bahagi. Under the existing law noon (Rep. Act No. 3588), isang bagong sistema ng voter registration ang inilagay.

Ngunit kung sakaling, bago mag-Marso 30, 1965, ang mga nakapagparehistro sa bagong sistema ay wala pang 60% ng total registered voters noong 1963 elections — ang COMELEC ay awtomatikong mag-a-activate ng backup plan:

  • Ang mga botante noong 1963 ay awtomatikong recognized bilang qualified voters para sa 1965.
  • Ang mga bagong botante na hindi pa nakapagparehistro ay bibigyan ng pagkakataon, at least 60 days bago ang halalan.
  • Patuloy pa rin ang COMELEC sa bagong registration system — at kung matapos ito 70 days before the election, ang bagong listahan ang gagamitin.

Section 3 — Mga Guro Bilang Registration Aides

Ang mga public school teachers ay maaaring gamitin ng COMELEC sa precinct level para sa voter registration. Mga kondisyon:

  1. Binibigyan ng preference ang may karanasan na bilang election inspectors.
  2. Walang pending administrative case ang guro.
  3. Nasa ilalim sila ng direct supervision ng municipal o city registrar.
  4. Bayad: "reasonable rate of compensation" na itatatakda ng COMELEC.

Section 5 — Overtime Pay

Ang officials at employees ng COMELEC — maliban sa Chairman at Members — ay maaaring bayaran ng overtime pay tuwing Sabado, Linggo, at pista opisyal, o pagkatapos ng 12:30 PM sa half-day sessions at pagkatapos ng 5 PM sa regular days.

Ang overtime pay ay hindi maaaring lumampas sa half ng regular monthly compensation sa loob ng isang buwan.

Section 6 — Bawal ang "Registration Bribery"

Ito ang probisyon na madalas hindi nalalaman ng tao. Sa ilalim ng Section 6, ito ay less serious violation ng Revised Election Code para sa sinumang mag-alok ng:

  • Cash o commodities
  • Libreng transportasyon, pagkain, inumin
  • Libreng filming o photography
  • O anumang serbisyo

…na may kaugnayan sa registration ng isang tao bilang botante.

Hindi lang ito naglalapat sa mismong halalan — kundi sa voter registration pa lang.

What This Means for You / Ano ang Ibig Sabihin Nito

Hindi ka directly apektado ng RA 4168 ngayon — ito ay historical law na nagtakda ng budget para sa isang specific election 60 taon na ang nakakaraan.

Pero may tatlong bagay itong itinuturo sa atin:

Una, ang COMELEC ay hindi nag-o-operate sa hangin. May batas na nagbibigay ng budget sa bawat malaking halalan. Ngayon, ang katumbas nito ay ang annual General Appropriations Act na naglalaman ng COMELEC budget.

Pangalawa, ang school teachers ay matagal na may papel sa ating sistema ng halalan — hindi lang bilang Board of Election Inspectors ngayon, kundi noon pa ay registration aides na sila.

Pangatlo, ang vote buying ay hindi nagsisimula sa Nobyembre. Kahit sa voter registration pa lang, ipinagbawal na ng batas ang pagbibigay ng anumang inducement. Ang prinsipyo ay nagsimula pa noong 1964.

Real Filipino Scenario: Si Divine at ang Libreng Pancit sa Registration Booth

Si Divine, 42 taong gulang, ay construction foreman sa Olongapo. Noong panahon ng 1965 voter registration drive, ang isang lokal na pulitiko ay nagpapakain ng libre sa registration area — may ihaw, may kanin, may softdrinks — para hikayatin ang mga tao na pumunta at magparehistro.

Iniisip ni Divine: "Libre lang naman ang pagkain. Nagpaparehistro rin naman talaga ako. Ano'ng masama?"

Pero under Section 6 ng RA 4168, ang pagbibigay ng libreng pagkain, inumin, o transportasyon na may kaugnayan sa voter registration ay isang less serious violation ng Revised Election Code.

Hindi kailangang may kapalit na boto — ang simpleng "libre para makapagparehistro" ay violation na.

Ano ang dapat gawin ni Divine? Pumunta sa registration at magparehistro — pero huwag tanggapin ang libreng pagkain mula sa pulitiko. Kung mayroon siyang nakikitang ganitong aktibidad, maaari niyang i-report sa COMELEC o sa pinakamalapit na election officer.

What Most Filipinos Get Wrong / Mga Maling Akala

"Ang vote buying, sa election day lang nangyayari."

Mali. Kahit sa voter registration — linggo o buwan pa bago ang halalan — ipinagbabawal na ang pagbibigay ng anumang benefit para makuha ang partisipasyon ng isang tao. Ito ay naka-establish na sa RA 4168 pa noong 1964, at pinapalaki pa ng modernong election laws tulad ng Omnibus Election Code.

"Ang guro ay obligado na lang na maging parte ng halalan — walang bayad."

Sa ilalim ng RA 4168, ang mga teachers na naging registration aides ay may karapatang bayaran — na may "reasonable rate of compensation." Hindi ito libreng serbisyo. Ang prinsipyo na dapat bayaran ang mga guro para sa election-related work ay matagal nang established.

"Kung may natira pang pondo ng COMELEC, ibabalik ito sa treasury."

Hindi awtomatiko. Under Section 1, ang unexpended balance ay maaaring gamitin para sa prior years elections obligations — kasama ang mga utang ng nakaraang halalang hindi pa nababayaran. Budget flexibility ito para sa COMELEC.

"Ang COMELEC budget ay diskresyon ng Presidente."

Hindi rin. Ang COMELEC ay may exclusive authority sa paggastos ng inilaan para sa kanya — pero kailangan ng congressional appropriation at may quarterly reporting requirement sa Congress.

What to Do if Your Rights Are Violated / Ano ang Gagawin

Ang RA 4168 ay historical law — hindi mo ito i-invoke ngayon para sa personal na reklamo. Pero kung may katanungan ka tungkol sa kasalukuyang voter registration rights o election violations, ito ang dapat gawin:

  1. Makipag-ugnayan sa pinakamalapit na COMELEC Office sa iyong lungsod o bayan. Available ang listahan sa comelec.gov.ph.

  2. Para sa voter registration concerns — pumunta personal sa Office of the Election Officer (OEO) ng iyong lugar na may dalang valid ID at proof of residence.

  3. Para sa election violations tulad ng vote buying o registration bribery — mag-file ng formal complaint sa COMELEC Law Department o sa Election Officer. Maaari rin itong gawin online sa ilan sa COMELEC's digital portals.

  4. Kung teacher ka at may concern sa iyong election duties — koordinasyon sa iyong school principal at sa Division Election Supervisor ng DepEd. May Memoranda of Agreement ang COMELEC at DepEd para dito.

  5. Para sa legal advice — makipag-ugnayan sa Public Attorney's Office (PAO) o sa lokal na Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) chapter.

  6. Mag-stay updated sa opisyal na COMELEC website: comelec.gov.ph para sa mga election calendar, voter registration schedules, at official guidelines.

Related Laws

Mga Madalas Itanong / FAQ

Q: Relevant pa ba ang RA 4168 ngayon?

A: Hindi direkta, bilang operating law. Ito ay isang appropriations act para sa isang specific election noong 1965. Ang pondo na inilaan nito ay matagal nang nagastos. Pero ang mga prinsipyo nito — gaya ng pagbabawal ng registration bribery at ang papel ng school teachers sa elections — ay patuloy na makikita sa modernong election laws.

Q: Bakit ₱44.5 milyon lang ang budget ng isang national election?

A: Noong 1964, ang halaga ng piso ay ibang-iba sa ngayon dahil sa inflation. Para magkaroon ng perspektibo, ang ₱44.5 milyon noong 1964 ay katumbas ng daan-daang milyon sa pesos ngayon. Bukod doon, ang automation at modernong sistema ng halalan ay hindi pa umiiral noon — manual ang lahat, na mas mura sa ilang aspeto pero mas matrabaho.

Q: Sino ang nagbabayad sa mga guro na nagsi-serve sa halalan ngayon?

A: Sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang sistema, ang COMELEC ang nagbabayad ng honorarium sa mga guro na nagsi-serve sa Board of Election Inspectors (BEI). Ang halaga ay tinutukoy sa bawat election cycle at maaaring makita sa mga opisyal na COMELEC resolutions.

Q: Ano ang "less serious violation" ng election code?

A: Sa ilalim ng Revised Election Code noon (at sa modernong Omnibus Election Code), ang mga election offenses ay naka-classify ayon sa severity. Ang "less serious violations" ay may mas magaang na parusa kumpara sa mga serious violations

RELATED RIGHTS

Elections

ARMM Election Synchronization Law Philippines — BatasKo ELI5

Elections

Accessible Polling Places for PWDs and Senior Citizens Philippines — BatasKo ELI5

Elections

Mandatory Biometrics Voter Registration Philippines — BatasKo ELI5

Elections

Local Absentee Voting for Media (RA 10380) — BatasKo ELI5

Legal disclaimer: BatasKo provides general legal information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a licensed Filipino lawyer or the Public Attorney's Office (PAO).

← Browse all Republic Acts