AN ACT PROVIDING FOR LOCAL ABSENTEE VOTING FOR MEDIA

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. – The
State shall
ensure the free exercise of the right of suffrage by all citizens of the
Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law.

SEC. 2. Local Absentee Voting for Members of
Media. – The
Commission on Elections shall extend the right to vote under the local
absentee voting system provided under existing laws and executive orders
to members of media, media practitioners, including the technical and
support staff, who are duly registered voters and who, on election day,
may not be able to vote due to the performance of their functions in
covering and reporting on the elections: Provided,
That they shall be allowed to vote only for the positions of
President, Vice President, Senators and Party-List Representative.

SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations.
– The
Commission on Elections shall, within thirty (30) days from the
effectivity of this Act, promulgate the implementing rules and
regulations which shall include a system of accreditation and
verification of the members of media, media practitioners, the technical
and support staff, who are qualified to avail of local absentee voting.

SEC. 4. Appropriations. – The initial
funding of this Act
shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations or from any
available savings of the Commission on Elections. Thereafter, such
amount as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. – If any
part or provision
of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, other
provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in
full force and effect.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. – All laws,
presidential
decrees, executive orders, resolutions, rules and regulations, other
issuances, and parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. – This Act shall
take effect fifteen
(15) days following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,

This Act winch is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1198
and
House Bill No. 4241 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of
Representatives on January 22, 2013.

Approved: MAR 14,
2013

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO
III
President of the Philippines