Automated and Online System for Voter Registration

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 25 JUL -8 P5:33 SENATE S. No. 263 Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT ENABLING THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS TO ESTABLISH AN AUTOMATED AND ONLINE SYSTEM FOR VOTER REGISTRATION, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE The right to suffrage or the right to vote, which is enshrined in our Constitution, is an essential attribute of a democratic country like the Philippines. It enables the people to participate in the process of government in order to assure that its powers are derived from the consent of the governed. Before one can exercise the right to vote, a registration process is required through local Commission on Elections (COMELEC) offices. Yet, registration appears to be a time-consuming, inconvenient, and exhausting process, which could be deterring qualified citizens from registering, rendering them unable to participate during the elections. Thus, to encourage citizens to register, this bill seeks to enable COMELEC, as far as practicable, to adopt, design, and use an automated and online system for voter registration. This will cover the electronic and online filing and processing of the application for registration, transfer of registration, reactivation, correction of voter registration entries, and such other requests and processes relative to the voter's registration and records. Streamlining and automating the registration will result in a more efficient, convenient, and accessible process, which will undoubtedly encourage more qualified citizens to participate in the electoral process.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of the bill is earnestly sought. MARK A. VILLAR

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) First Regular Session 25 JUL -8 P5:33 SENATE S. No. 263 Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT ENABLING THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS TO ESTABLISH AN AUTOMATED AND ONLINE SYSTEM FOR VOTER REGISTRATION AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to establish a

2 system of registration that ensures and guarantees a clean, complete, permanent, and 3 updated list of voters. To encourage and ensure a continuing system of voter registration, the State shall adopt and make use of technologies that shall facilitate 5 and allow the automated and online registration of voters, taking into account the 6 integrity, completeness, and accuracy of the list of voters.

Sec. 2. Automated and Online Voter Registration System. - The Commission on

8 Elections (COMELEC) shall, as far as practicable, adopt, design, and use an automated 9 and online system for voter registration that enables the electronic and online filing 10 and processing of the application for registration, transfer of registration, reactivation, correction of voter registration entries, and such other requests and processes relative to the voter's registration and records. The COMELEC shall also endeavor to use the same automated and online system for the verification and approval of application for voter registration, transfer of registration, reactivation, correction of voter registration entries, and such other requests and processes relative to the voter's registration and records as may be practicable, bearing in mind the State's policy of ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the voters list and records.

Sec. 3. Automated and Online Verification. - Where online verification of the

2 application or request is not feasible in the meantime, the system shall nonetheless 3 allow the applicant to submit his or her application or request through the COMELEC'S online platform. The same application and the information contained therein, including the demographics of the applicant, shall be processed electronically and shall be 6 automatically stored in the COMELEC database for pending voter registration application or requests. The system shall promptly provide the applicant with complete and detailed information as to the steps required to complete the application or request.

Sec. 4. Personal Filing. - The automated and online filing of application for

11 voter registration shall not preclude the personal filing of applications for registration, 12 transfer of registration, reactivation, correction of voter registration entries, and such 13 other requests, which shall continue to be avaliable and conducted in the office of the 14 Election Officer during office hours.

Sec. 5. Automated and Electronic Notice of Approval or Disapproval - The

16 automated and electronic system of voter registration shall include a feature that automatically informs the applicant of the successful submission of his or her application or request. The system shall provide detailed instructions on how the applicant may follow up or complete the application for registration or requests, the 20 estimated time to complete the processing of the application or request, details on the 21 notice of approval or disapproval of the application and requests, further remedies 22 available in case of disapproval, and such other information necessary to promptly assist the applicant with his or her application or request.

Sec. 6. Secure Internet Website and Online Platforms. - The COMELEC shall

design, devise, adopt, or otherwise use a secure Internet Website or online platform where such applications may be filed by voters and/or applicants. Security measures shall be put in place to protect and guarantee the completeness, accuracy, and integrity of voter registration forms, applications, and information submitted and filed through such Internet Website or online platform.

Sec. 7. Automatic Registration - Within ten (10) years from the effectivity of

this Act, the COMELEC shall implement a program wherein persons registered under

1 the existing National ID Program shall be automatically registered as voter of the place 2 of their declared residence upon reaching the allowable voting age.

Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The COMELEC, in coordination

4 with the appropriate government agencies, including the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Information and Communications 6 Technology (DICT), and in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate 7 the implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) from the effectivity of this Act.

Sec. 9. Appropriation. - The amount necessary for the effective implementation

of this Act shall be included in the budget of the COMELEC in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 10. Separability Clause - Any portion or provisions of this Act that may be

declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions or provisions can still subsist and be given effect in their entirety.

Sec. 11. Repealing Clause - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,

memoranda, circulars, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Sec. 12. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REPEL OF THE FEETES First Regular Session SENATE S. No. - Introduced by SENATOR MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT REGULATING THE DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES OF DEBT COLLECTORS TO PROTECT BORROWERS FROM ABUSES, HARASSMENT, UNFAIR TREATMENT, AND MISREPRESENTATIONS EXPLANATORY NOTE While the proliferation of online lending platforms enhanced access to credit, it has also unfortunately led to a rise in abusive, unethical, and unfair debt collection practices. According to several reports, debtors are being bombarded daily with threatening text messages and missed calls, fraudulent court orders or processes, fabricated criminal cases, and unauthorized access and use of personal information. Additionally, lending and financing companies have resorted to engaging third- party service providers (TPSP) to give themselves "plausible deniability" and avoid liability for client harassment. 1 The existence of numerous laws and regulations governing lending activities, such as the "Truth in Lending Act", the "Financing Company Act of 1998", the "Lending Company Regulation Act of 2007", the "Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act", issuances of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and even RA No. 10173 or the "Data Privacy Act of 2012", have not deterred these unscrupulous acts that have led to the ruin of lives. Thus, this bill aims to tightly regulate the debt collection practices of lending and financing companies, credit card companies, and their TPSPs. Specifically, it ' Rafael Angelo M. Padilla, FINTECH: LAW AND FIRST PRINCIPLES 380 (2020).

establishes clear guidelines and limits on how debt collectors deal with debtors. Under threat of liability, debt collectors cannot engage in harassing, oppressive, and abusive behavior, use false, deceptive, or misleading means, or resort to unfair or unconscionable collection practices. On the other hand, debtors shall be provided with protections such as strict confidentiality of their information, the issuance of receipts for payments, and the right to a complete accounting of all details relating to their debts. In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought. MARK A. VILLAR