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Republic Act No. 7056· Enacted 1991-06-20

RA 7056 Synchronized Elections Philippines — BatasKo ELI5

Ano ang synchronized elections at paano ito nakakaapekto sa iyong boto? Alamin ang RA 7056 sa simpleng salita — para sa botante, lokal na opisyal, at OFW.

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Official text — Republic Act No. 7056

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Preamble

Eighth Congress

Republic Act No. 7056 June 20, 1991

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS IN 1992, PAVING THE WAY FOR SYNCHRONIZED AND SIMULTANEOUS ELECTIONS BEGINNING 1995, AND AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATIONS THEREFOR

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

Section 1

Section 1.

Statement of Policy.

- It is the policy of the State to start, as much as practicable, the synchronization of the elections so that the process can be completed in the 1995 elections with the result that beginning 1995 there shall be only one (1) simultaneous regular elections for national and local elective officials once every three (3) years.

Section 2

Section 2.

Start of Synchronization.

- To start the process of synchronization of elections in accordance with the policy herein before declared, there shall be held.

(a) An election for President and Vice-President of the Philippines, twenty-four (24) Senators, and all elective Members of the House of Representatives on the second Monday of May 1992; and

(b) An election of all provincial, city, and municipal elective officials on the second Monday of November 1992.

Section 3 — Term of Office.→

Section 3.

Term of Office.

- The President, the Vice-President, and the Senators shall have a term of office of six (6)years beginning at the noon of the 30th day of June next following their elections: Provided, however, That, of the twenty-four (24) Senators to be elected on the second Monday of May 1992, the first twelve (12) obtaining the highest number of votes shall serve for six (6) years and the remaining twelve, for three years.

The Members of the House of Representatives and all elective provincial, city, and municipal officials shall serve for a term of three years which shall begin at noon on the 30th day of June next following elections: Provided, however, That, in view of the many difficult if not insurmountable problems to a full and immediate synchronization of all elections on the second Monday of May 1992, all incumbent provincial, city, and municipal officials shall hold over beyond the 30th day of June 1992 and serve until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified. The tenure of the newly elected local officials shall start at noon of November 30, 1992.

No Vice-President shall serve for more than two (2) consecutive terms.

No Senator shall serve for more than two (2) consecutive terms.

No Member of the House of Representatives shall serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms.

No elective provincial, city, or municipal official shall serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms.

Voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of his service for the full term for which he was elected.

Section 4 — Full Synchronization of Elections.→

Section 4.

Full Synchronization of Elections.

(a) The regular elections for the President and Vice-President of the Philippines shall be held on the second Monday of May 1992 and on the same day for every period of six (6) years thereafter; and

(b) The regular election of twelve (12) Senators, all Members of the House of Representatives, and the elective provincial city, and municipal officials shall be held on the second Monday of May 1995, and on the same day for every period of three (3) years thereafter.

Section 5 — Election of Provincial, City, and Municipal Members of the Sangguniang Panlala→

Section 5.

Election of Provincial, City, and Municipal Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Sangguniang Panlungsod, and Sangguniang Bayan by Districts.

- To reduce the number of positions to be voted for, which is one of the problems preventing immediate and full synchronization of elections in May 1992, for better representation, and to ensure free, orderly, honest, and less expensive elections, the elective members of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, and sangguniang bayan shall be elected by the qualified voters of their respective districts as follows:

Beginning with the 1992 elections: (a) The number of elective councilors or sangguniang panlungsod members in the Metro Manila area, the City of Cebu, City of Davao and any other city with two (2) or more representative districts shall continue to be governed by the provisions of Sections 2 and 3 of Republic Act No. 6636: Provided, That, the Municipalities of Malabon, Navotas, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, Las Pinas, and Taguig shall have twelve (12) councilors, and Pateros, ten (10).

(b) For provinces with two (2) or more representative districts, the number of elective members of the sangguniang panlalawigan shall be equally divided among them; Provided, That, if equal division is not possible, the remaining member or members shall be elected in the district or districts with the greater number of voters or, if they be the same, with the greater number of population.

Beginning with the 1995 elections: (a) For provinces and cities with only one (1) representative district, the Commission on Elections shall divide them into two (2) districts for purposes of provincial or city representation as nearly as may be according to the number of inhabitants, each district comprising a compact, contiguous and adjacent territory, and the number of elective members of their respective sanggunian shall be equally divided between the districts in accordance with the standard or formula provided in the next preceding section.

(b) The Commission on Elections shall apportion the number of elective councilors or members of the sangguniang bayan among the duly constituted barangays and sitios as nearly as practicable according to the number of their respective inhabitants, each councilor district to comprise a compact, contiguous and adjacent territory: Provided, however, That each councilor district shall elect at least two (2) councilors: Provided, further, That, in case of any extra member, he shall be elected in the district with greater number of population.

No person shall be elected member of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, or sangguniang bayan, as the case may be, unless he is an actual resident of his district: Provided, however, That an incumbent member of the sanggunian who competes in the election for the same position may run in any district within the municipality, city, or province where he is a registered candidate.

Section 6 — Applicability of the Omnibus Election Code and All Existing Laws Governing Ele→

Section 6.

Applicability of the Omnibus Election Code and All Existing Laws Governing Elections.

- The Omnibus Election Code (Batas Pambansa Blg. 881), Republic Act No. 6636, Republic Act No. 6646, and all existing laws governing or pertaining to elections shall govern and apply to all elections unless inconsistent with or repealed or modified by any of the provisions of this Act and subsequent laws.

Show 9 more sections +→
Section 7 — Postponement, Failure of Election and Special Elections.→

Section 7.

Postponement, Failure of Election and Special Elections.

- The postponement, declaration of failure of election and the calling of special elections, as provided in Sections 5, 6 and 7 of the Omnibus Election Code (Batas Pambansa Blg. 881) shall be decided only by the Commission on Elections sitting en banc by a majority vote of its members.

The causes for the declaration of a failure of election may occur before or after the casting of the votes or the day of the election.

Section 8 — Election and Campaign Periods.→

Section 8.

Election and Campaign Periods.

- Unless otherwise fixed in special cases by the Commission on Elections, the election period for regular and special elections shall commence ninety (90) days before the day of the election and shall end thirty (30) days thereafter.

The campaign periods for regular and special elections are hereby fixed as follows:

(a) For Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections, one hundred twenty (120) days before the day of the election;

(b) For Senatorial elections, ninety (90) days before the day of the election; and

(c) For the election of Members of the House of Representatives and local elective provincial, city, and municipal officials, forty-five (45) days before the day of the election.

However, the foregoing campaign periods shall not include the day before and the end of the election day itself, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday during which any kind of campaigning is absolutely prohibited.

Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, any candidate for Senator, Member of the House of Representatives or any elective local official may campaign for the national candidates of their political parties before their own campaign periods.

Section 9 — Nomination and Selection of Official Candidates.→

Section 9.

Nomination and Selection of Official Candidates.

- No political convention or meeting process for the nomination or selection of the official candidates of any political party or organization, or political group, or a coalition thereof, shall be held earlier than the following periods:

(a) For President, Vice-President and Senators, one hundred eighty (180) days before the day of the election; and

(b) For elective provincial, city, or municipal officials, ninety days before the day of the election.

Section 10 — Filing of Certificates of Candidacy.→

Section 10.

Filing of Certificates of Candidacy.

- The certificates of candidacy of any person running for the office of President, Vice-President, Senator, Member of the House of Representatives, or any elective provincial, city, or municipal official shall be filed not later than the day legally fixed for the beginning of their campaign periods in accordance with the form, manner, and with the receiving offices or officials provided by existing laws.

Section 11 — Registration of New Voters.→

Section 11.

Registration of New Voters.

- There shall be a registration of voters on the 15th Saturday before the day of the election herein provided for voters who will reach the age of eighteen (18) years on or before the day of elections or for those who failed to register in the last preceding election: Provided, however, That the Commission on Elections may designate an additional date of registration in certain areas upon showing of special reason therefor by any interested party.

The board of election inspectors shall also meet on the 8th Saturday immediately preceding the day of the elections for the purpose of making such inclusions, exclusions and corrections as may be or may have been ordered by the courts stating the date of the order and the court which issued the same and for the consecutive numbering of the voters of the election precinct.

The board of election inspectors must post the final list of voters in each precinct with each and every page thereof duly signed or subscribed and sworn to by its members thirty (30) days before the date of the elections and that failure to comply with this provision will constitute an election offense.

Members of the military, Philippine National Police, and other government officers and employees who may temporarily be assigned in connection with the performance of election duties to places where they are not registered voters, upon presentation of their voters identification cards to the board of elections inspectors concerned, may be allowed to vote in the election precincts of their assignment for the offices of President, Vice-President, and Senators only unless they are registered voters in the district of their temporary assignment, in which case they can vote for the office of Representative.

A list of said persons shall be prepared by the board of election inspectors in duplicate. The original copy shall be transmitted to the Commission on Elections and the duplicate copy to the election registrar of the municipality.

Special ballots may be prepared by the Commission on Elections for their use.

Section 12 — Rules and Regulations.→

Section 12.

Rules and Regulations.

- The Commission on Elections shall issue rules and regulations to implement this Act. Said rules must be published in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Section 13 — Separability Clause.→

Section 13.

Separability Clause.

- If any provision, or part thereof, of this Act is declared unconstitutional, such declaration of unconstitutionality will not affect the other provisions of this Act.

Section 14 — Appropriations.→

Section 14.

Appropriations.

- The amount of six hundred million pesos (P600,000,000.00) is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any savings or unexpended balance in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated to cover the costs of holding the 1992 national and local elections. Hereafter, the amounts necessary to fund subsequent elections shall be included in the General Appropriations Act for the corresponding fiscal year.

Section 15 — Effectivity Clause.→

Section 15.

Effectivity Clause.

- This Act shall take effect upon the publication of its official text, as approved by the President, twice in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved, June 20, 1991.

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

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

Dati, hiwalay ang eleksyon para sa pambansang opisyal at lokal na opisyal — ibig sabihin, dalawang beses kang pupunta sa botohan sa magkaibang buwan. Binago ito ng Republic Act No. 7056. Ang layunin: iisa lang ang araw ng eleksyon para sa lahat — Presidente hanggang konsehal — simula 1995. Mas mura, mas madali, at mas maayos ang halalan para sa bawat Filipino.

Real Filipino Scenario: Si Nestor at ang Dalawang Eleksyon ng 1992

Si Nestor, 45, ay nagpapatakbo ng sari-sari store sa Lucena City. Sa buong buhay niya, sanay siyang bumoto nang dalawang beses sa isang taong may eleksyon — isa para sa Pangulo at Senado, isa pa para sa mayor at konsehal.

Noong 1992, narinig niyang magkaibang araw na ang dalawang boto: Mayo para sa pambansang opisyal, Nobyembre para sa lokal.

Naguluhan si Nestor. Bakit ganon? Ang sagot: ito ang transitional period na itinakda ng RA 7056. Hindi kaagad nagawa ang full synchronization noong 1992 — maraming lokal na opisyal ang kasalukuyang naka-holdover. Kaya pinili ng Kongreso na hatiin muna ang dalawang uri ng eleksyon sa magkaibang buwan, para sa maayos na paglipat.

Ano ang dapat gawin ni Nestor: Siguraduhing nakaregister siya sa dalawang eleksyon para sa taong iyon. Simula 1995, iisa na lang ang araw ng botohan — hindi na siya malilito.

What the Law Actually Says

Ang Republic Act No. 7056, na nilagdaan noong Hunyo 20, 1991, ay nagtatakda ng dalawang pangunahing bagay:

Una, ang transition elections ng 1992. Sa ilalim ng Section 2, dalawang magkaibang eleksyon ang ginanap:

  • Ikalawang Lunes ng Mayo 1992 — para sa Pangulo, Bise-Presidente, 24 na Senador, at lahat ng miyembro ng House of Representatives.
  • Ikalawang Lunes ng Nobyembre 1992 — para sa lahat ng provincial, city, at municipal elective officials.

Pangalawa, ang full synchronization simula 1995. Sa ilalim ng Section 4, simula 1995, iisa na lang ang regular na eleksyon — gaganapin sa ikalawang Lunes ng Mayo, bawat tatlong taon, para sa lahat ng pambansa at lokal na opisyal (maliban sa Pangulo at Bise-Presidente, na bawat anim na taon).

Ang term limits ay malinaw na itinakda ng Section 3:

  • Pangulo at Bise-Presidente: anim (6) na taon; ang Bise-Presidente ay hindi maaaring maglingkod ng higit sa dalawang (2) magkakasunod na termino
  • Senador: anim (6) na taon, maximum na dalawang (2) magkakasunod na termino
  • Miyembro ng House of Representatives: tatlo (3) taon, maximum na tatlong (3) magkakasunod na termino
  • Elective provincial, city, at municipal officials: tatlo (3) taon, maximum na tatlong (3) magkakasunod na termino

Mahalaga rin ang Section 3 na ito: ang voluntary renunciation ng opisina — kahit gaano kaikli — hindi ibibilang bilang interruption ng termino. Hindi ka makakalusot sa term limit sa pamamagitan ng pansamantalang pag-resign.

Ang Section 5 naman ay nagtatakda kung paano hahatiin ang mga konsehal at sanggunian members ayon sa distrito — para mas representado ang bawat lugar.

Sa ilalim ng Section 7, tanging ang COMELEC en banc lamang — sa pamamagitan ng majority vote ng lahat ng miyembro — ang may kapangyarihang mag-postpone, mag-declare ng failure of election, o tumawag ng special elections.

What This Means for You

Ang pinaka-praktikal na epekto ng RA 7056 ay ito: isang araw ng boto, isang pagpunta sa botohan.

Bago ang synchronized elections, kailangan mong bumoto nang maraming beses sa magkaibang araw — nakakapagod at nakakahalina ng gastos para sa gobyerno. Ang bawat hiwalay na eleksyon ay nagkakahalaga ng bilyun-bilyon sa taxpayer money.

Ngayon, ang lahat ng kandidato — mula Pangulo hanggang barangay konsehal — ay nasa iisang balota (o magkakalapit na proseso) sa iisang araw. Mas konting gastos, mas madaling i-organize, at mas madaling sagutin ng gobyerno.

Para sa iyo bilang botante, ibig sabihin nito:

  • Alam mo na kung kailan ang eleksyon: ikalawang Lunes ng Mayo, bawat tatlong taon.
  • Hindi ka mapapagalitan ng term limits — ang opisyal na matagal na naglilingkod ay kailangang tumigil, kahit sikat pa siya.
  • Ang COMELEC ang nagbabantay sa proseso — at may malinaw na proseso kung magkaroon ng problema sa araw ng eleksyon.

Real Filipino Scenario: Si Pedro at ang Term Limit na Hindi Niya Alam

Si Pedro, 29, ay social media manager sa Naga City. Aktibo siya sa pulitika online at madalas mag-post tungkol sa mga lokal na kandidato.

Noong 2022, may kilala siyang barangay konsehal na sumusubok tumakbo bilang city konsehal pagkatapos ng tatlong termino sa barangay. Sinabi ng ilang friends ni Pedro na "okay lang, iba naman ang posisyon."

Dito nagkakamali ang marami. Ang term limits na itinakda ng RA 7056 at ng Konstitusyon ay naka-base sa specific na posisyon. Tatlong termino bilang barangay konsehal ≠ tatlong termino bilang city konsehal. Kaya legal ang pagtakbo sa ibang posisyon pagkatapos maabot ang term limit sa isang posisyon.

Ngunit kung ang opisyal ay tatlong beses nang nahalal bilang city konsehal, hindi na siya maaaring tumakbo ulit para sa parehong posisyon — kahit pa mag-resign siya sandali sa ikatlong termino. Ang voluntary renunciation, ayon sa Section 3, ay hindi interruption.

Dapat gawin ni Pedro: I-verify ang track record ng kandidato sa COMELEC website (comelec.gov.ph) bago mag-post — at itanong kung aling posisyon ang pinag-uusapan ang term limit.

What Most Filipinos Get Wrong

Mali #1: "Ang synchronized elections ay simula 1992."

Hindi. Ang 1992 elections ay transitional — dalawa pa rin ang eleksyon noon (Mayo at Nobyembre). Ang tunay na synchronized, iisang-araw na eleksyon ay nagsimula sa 1995, ayon sa Section 4.

Mali #2: "Pwede kang mag-resign para ma-reset ang term limit mo."

Malinaw ang Section 3: ang voluntary renunciation ng opisina, kahit anong haba, ay hindi ibibilang bilang interruption ng termino. Tatlong termino ay tatlong termino — period.

Mali #3: "Ang term limit ay panlaban sa lahat ng posisyon nang sabay."

Hindi. Ang term limit ay naka-attach sa bawat partikular na posisyon. Kung tatlong beses kang nagsilbing mayor, hindi ka na maaaring tumakbo bilang mayor — pero maaari kang tumakbo bilang gobernador o senador.

Mali #4: "Ang COMELEC ay maaaring mag-postpone ng eleksyon kahit mag-isa."

Ayon sa Section 7, ang postponement o declaration of failure of election ay kailangang aprubahan ng COMELEC en banc — ibig sabihin, halos lahat ng komisyoner ay kailangang mag-boto. Hindi ito desisyon ng isa o dalawang tao lang.

Mali #5: "Ang campaign period ay magsisimula kaagad pagka-file ng certificate of candidacy."

Sa ilalim ng Section 8, ang campaign period ay may fixed na simula: 120 araw bago ang araw ng eleksyon para sa Pangulo at Bise-Presidente, 90 araw para sa Senado, at 45 araw para sa House at lokal na opisyal. Ang pag-file ng COC ay hindi automatic na simula ng campaign period.

For OFWs / Para sa mga OFW

Kung ikaw ay OFW, may karapatan kang bumoto kahit nasa ibang bansa — at ang synchronized election schedule ay direktang nakakaapekto sa iyo.

Ang RA 7056 ang naglatag ng pundasyon ng election schedule na ginagamit ng overseas absentee voting system. Ang iisang araw ng eleksyon (ikalawang Lunes ng Mayo) ay nagbibigay ng malinaw na deadline para sa overseas voting operations ng COMELEC at ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Paano ka makakaboto bilang OFW:

  1. Magparehistro sa pinakamalapit na Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO/MWO) o sa Philippine Embassy o Consulate sa iyong bansa. Ang deadline sa registration ay karaniwang mga Setyembre ng taon bago ang eleksyon.

  2. I-check ang listahan ng registered overseas voters sa COMELEC website (comelec.gov.ph) — tiyakin na tama ang iyong impormasyon.

  3. Bumoto sa itinalagang polling place sa Embassy o Consulate. Karaniwang may 30-day voting period ang overseas voting — mas maaga kaysa sa araw ng aktwal na eleksyon sa Pilipinas.

  4. I-update ang iyong registration kung nagbago ang iyong address o employer sa ibang bansa, dahil ang assignment ng polling place ay maaaring mag-iba.

  5. I-contact ang DFA o POLO/MWO kung may katanungan ka tungkol sa iyong voter registration status. Ang POLO/MWO ay matatagpuan sa mga bansang may malaking bilang ng OFW tulad ng Saudi Arabia, UAE, Hong Kong, at Singapore.

Tandaan: Hindi ka maaaring bumoto para sa barangay officials bilang overseas voter — ang overseas absentee voting ay para lamang sa pambansang posisyon (Pangulo, Bise-Presidente, Senado, at party-list representatives). Ang synchronized election schedule ng RA 7056 ang nagbibigay ng malinaw na timeframe para sa buong prosesong ito.

Real Filipino Scenario: Si Francis sa Australia at ang Overseas Vote

Si Francis, 34, ay skilled trades worker sa Sydney, Australia. Nakapag-file na siya ng working visa at nakatira na siya roon nang mahigit tatlong taon.

Nag-alala si Francis: "Pwede pa ba akong bumoto sa eleksyon sa Pilipinas? Matagal na akong wala doon."

Ang sagot: Oo, basta rehistrado ka bilang overseas absentee voter. Ang pagiging OFW o permanent resident sa ibang bansa ay hindi awtomatikong nag-aalis ng iyong karapatang bumoto sa Pilipinas — basta hindi mo pa sinukrender ang iyong Philippine citizenship.

Ang synchronized election schedule na itinatag ng RA 7056 ay nagbibigay ng malinaw na kalendaryo — alam ni Francis na bawat tatlong taon, ikalawang Lunes ng Mayo, ang eleksyon. Kaya maaari siyang magplano nang maaga.

Dapat gawin ni Francis:

  1. Pumunta sa Philippine Consulate General sa Sydney para mag-register bilang overseas absentee voter.
  2. I-verify ang registration status niya online sa comelec.gov.ph bago ang deadline.
  3. Bumoto sa itinalagang polling place sa Consulate sa loob ng overseas voting period — karaniwang 30 araw bago ang opisyal na araw ng eleksyon sa Pilipinas.

What to Do if Your Rights Are Violated

Ano ang Gagawin Kung May Problema sa Eleksyon

  1. I-document lahat. Kung may nakita kang irregularidad — vote-buying, voter intimidation, o pag-deny ng iyong boto — kumuha ng litrato, video, o nakasulat na patunay kung posible. Makipag-usap sa mga saksi.

  2. Makipag-ugnayan sa COMELEC. Ang Commission on Elections ay may hotline at regional offices sa buong bansa. Maaari kang mag-file ng reklamo sa pinakamalapit na COMELEC office o sa kanilang opisyal na website (comelec.gov.ph).

  3. Makipag-ugnayan sa iyong lokal na Board of Election Inspectors (BEI). Sa araw ng eleksyon, ang BEI ang unang linya ng solusyon para sa mga problema sa botohan — mula sa hindi makita sa listahan hanggang sa sirang voting machine.

  4. Humingi ng tulong sa mga election watchdogs. Ang mga organisasyon tulad ng PPCRV (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting) at NAMFREL ay nagde-deploy ng observers sa botohan at tumutulong sa mga botante.

  5. I-file ang formal complaint sa loob ng tamang panahon. Ang mga election protests ay may prescriptive periods — huwag antayin ang matagal bago kumilos. Kumonsulta sa isang abogado para sa mga partikular na

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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).

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