Philippine Republic Act Essay

For the purpose of the whitethorn 11, 1998 picks, there sh tot everyy be especial(a) parts be of a fourthly fellow member in from apiece one precinct and a COMELEC congressman who is authorized to operate the reckoninging c satisfactory car. both(prenominal) sh only conduct the enumeration and recording of chooses of the home(a) voter turn give aways in the designated run centers 8. option returns a instrument-generated document showing the date of the choice, the province, municipality and the precinct in which it is held and the votes in figures for apiece vista in a precinct directly produced by the reckoning weapon 9.Statement of votes a automobile-generated document assumeing the votes obtained by aspects in each precinct in a metropolis/municipality 10. City/municipal/ soil/ churl surety of try verboten of votes a machine-generated document containing the total votes in figures obtained by each candidate in a urban center/municipality/district/ province as the case may be and 11. Counting center a man step up designated by the military commission where figuringing of votes and studying/consolidation of results shall be conducted. Sec. 3. Qualifications, rights and limitations of the special members of the shape up of choice Inspectors.No person shall be decreed as a special member of the dining table of alternative inspectors unless he/she is of good moral character and irreproachable reputation, a registered voter, has never been convicted of every option offense or of each crime punishable by much than six (6) months imprisonment or if he/she has pending against him/her an instruction for all preference offense or if he/she is related in spite of appearance the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to whatever member of the shape up of resource inspectors or some(prenominal) special member of the same age of Election Inspector or to any candidate for a study position or to a nominee as a party list representative or his/her spouse. The special members of the poster shall enjoy the same rights and be bound by the same limitations and liabilities of a regular member of the mature of option inspectors but shall not vote during the proceedings of the board of resource inspectors shut out on matters pertaining to the field of study right to voteinging. Sec. 4.Duties and functions of the special members of the Board of Election Inspectors. 1. During the conduct of the ballotinging in the toping place, the fourth member shall a) accomplish the minutes of voting for the automate resource body in the precinct and (b) ensure that the interior(a) ballots are placed inside the clutch ballot turning point 2. On the close of the polls, the fourth member shall bring the ballot box containing the national ballots to the designated counting center 3. Before the counting of votes, the fourth member shall range if the number of national ballots tallies wit h the selective information in the minutes of the voting 4. During the counting of votes, the fourth member and the COMELEC authorized representative shall together with accomplish the minutes of counting for the automated election frame in the precinct 5. later on the counting of votes, the fourth member and the authorized representative shall voicely (a) certify the results of the counting of national ballots from the precinct and (b) bring the ballot box containing the counted national ballots together with the minutes of voting and counting, and separate election documents and paraphernalia to the urban center or municipal treasurer for safekeeping. Sec. 5. Board of Canvassers. For purposes of the whitethorn 11, 1998 elections, each province, city or municipality shall get under ones skin two (2) board of sheet of paperers, one for the manual election system under the existing law, and the former(a), for the automated system. For the automated election system, the c hair of the board shall be appointed by the consignment from among its personnel/deputies and the members from the formaliseds enumerated. berth to use an automated election system. To entertain out the above- say policy, the consignment on Elections, herein referred to as the direction, is hereby authorized to use an automated election system, herein referred to as the schema, for the surgery of voting, counting of votes and sheeting/consolidation of results of the national and local elections Provided, however, That for the may 11, 1998 elections, the System shall be applicable in all areas at bottom the country besides for the positions of president, vice-president, senators and parties, organizations or coalitions participating under the party-list system. To extend to the purpose of this put to work, the explosive charge is authorized to procure by purchase, lease or other than any supplies, equipment, materials and services needed for the property of the electio ns by an expedited process of commonplace bidding of vendors, suppliers or lessors Provided, That the accredited political parties are duly notified of and allowed to observe but not to go into in the bidding.If, inspite of its diligent efforts to carry out this mandate in the exercise of this authority, it becomes evident by February 9, 1998 that the cathexis cannot fully implement the automated election system for national positions in the May 11, 1998 elections, the elections for both national and local positions shall be done manually except in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) where the automated election system shall be use for all positions. Sec. 7. Features of the system. The System shall utilize beguile techno poundy for voting, and electronic blinds for counting of votes and probesing of results. For this purpose, the mission shall acquire automated counting machines, computer equipment, devices and materials and feign new forms and suckering mate rials.The System shall contain the following features (a) use of appropriate ballots, (b) stand-alone machine which can count votes and an automated system which can consolidate the results immediately, (c) with provisions for audit trails, (d) minimal human intervention, and (e) adequate safeguard/security measures. In addition, the System shall as far as practicable gift the following features 1. It essentialiness be user-friendly and need not require computer-literate operators 2. The machine security must be built-in and multi-layer existent on ironware and software with stripped-down human intervention using latest technology like encrypted cryptogram system 3.The security key control must be introduce inside the machine soaked against human intervention 4. The Optical foretoken Reader (OMR) must cede a built-in printer for tally the counted ballots and also for printing the individual precinct number on the counted ballots 5. The ballot authorship for the OMR co unting machine must be of the quality that passed the international commonplace like ISO-1831, JIS-X- 9004 or its equivalent for optical character recognition 6. The ballot feeder must be automatic 7. The machine must be able to count from 100 to 150 ballots per minute 8. The counting machine must be able to detect fake or shape ballots and must have a fake ballot rejector 9.The counting machine must be able to detect and reject previously counted ballots to counter duplication 10. The counting machine must have the capability to differentiate the ballots individual precinct and city or municipality before counting or consolidating the votes 11. The System must have a printer that has the faculty to print in one stroke or operation 7 (7) copies (original plus six (6) copies) of the consolidated reports on carbonless paper 12. The printer must have at least 128 kilobytes of Random Access Memory (RAM) to serve the expeditious processing of the printing of the consolidated repor ts 13. The machine must have a built-in floppy harrow drive in coif to save the processed data on a diskette 14.The machine must also have a built-in hard disk to store the counted and consolidated data for future printout and verification 15. The machine must be temperature-resistant and rust-proof 16. The optical lens of the OMR must have a self-cleaning device 17. The machine must not be capable of being committed to external computer peripherals for the process of vote consolidation 18. The machine must have an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) 19. The machine must be accompanied with operating manuals that will guide the personnel of the relegating the proper(a) use and maintenance of the machine 20. It must be so intentional and built that add-ons may immediately be incorporated into the System at minimum expense 21.It must come through the shortest m needed to make do the counting of votes and tacking of the results of the election 22. The machine must be able to gener ate consolidated reports like the election return, statement of votes and authentication of canvass at different levels and 23. The accuracy of the count must be guaranteed, the valuation reserve of error must be disclosed and backed by stock warrant under much(prenominal) terms and conditions as may be placed by the foreign mission. In the procurement of this system, the Commission shall adopt an equitable system of deductions or demerits for deviations or deficiencies in meeting all the above stated features and standards.For this purpose, the Commission shall create an Advisory Council to be composed of technical experts from the discussion section of Science and Technology (DOST), the Information Technology Foundation of the Philippines (ITFP), the University of the Philippines (UP), and two (2) representatives from the closed-door sector recommended by the Philippine Computer Society (PCS). The Council may aid itself of the expertise and services of resource persons of known competence and probity. The Commission in collaboration with the DOST shall establish an independent Technical Ad Hoc Evaluation Committee, herein known as the Committee, composed of a representative each from the Senate, kinsfolk of Representatives.The Committee shall certify that the System is operating properly and accurately and that the machines have a demonstrable capacity to distinguish between genuine and meretricious ballots. The Committee shall ensure that the examination procedure shall be unbiased and good in checking the worthiness of the System. Toward this end, the Committee shall design and implement a reliableness test procedure or a system stress test. Sec. 8. procurance of equipment and materials. The Commission shall procure the automated counting machines, computer equipment, devices and materials needed for ballot printing and devices for voting, counting and canvassing from local or foreign sources gratuitous from taxes and import duties, subject t o accounting and auditing rules and regulations. Sec. 9. Systems breakdown in the counting center. In the event of a systems breakdown of all assigned machines in the counting center, the Commission shall use any on hand(predicate) machine or any share thereof from another city/municipality upon the approval of the Commission En Banc or any of its divisions.The transfer of much(prenominal) machines or any component thereof shall be undertaken in the figurehead of representatives of political parties and citizens offshoot of the Commission who shall be notified by the election police military officer of such transfer. There is a systems breakdown in the counting center when the machine fails to read the ballots or fails to store/save results or fails to print the results after it has read the ballots or when the computer fails to consolidate election results/reports or fails to print election results/reports after consolidation. Sec. 10. Examination and testing of counting mac hines. The Commission shall, on the date and time it shall set and with proper notices, allow the political parties and candidates or their representatives, citizens arm or their representatives to examine and test the machines to ascertain that the system is operating properly and accurately. prove ballots and test forms shall be offer upd by the Commission. After the examination and testing, the machines shall be locked and send offage stamped by the election officer or any authorized representative of the Commission in the front man of the political parties and candidates or their representatives, and accredited citizens arms. The machines shall be kept locked and close and shall be opened again on election day before the counting of votes begins.Immediately after the examination and testing of the machines, the parties and candidates or their representatives, citizens arms or their representatives, may submit a scripted report to the election officer who shall immediately transmit it to the Commission for appropriate action. Sec. 11. Official ballot. The Commission shall prescribe the size and form of the official ballot which shall contain the titles of the positions to be filled and/or the propositions to be voted upon in an initiative, referendum or plebiscite. Under each position, the names of candidates shall be arranged alphabetically by surname and uniformly printed using the same type size. A heady space where the professorship of the Board of Election inspectors shall affix his/her signature to authenticate the official ballot shall be provided. Both sides of the ballots may be used when obligatory.For this purpose, the deadline for the filing of certificate of candidacy/petition for registration/manifestation to participate in the election shall not be later than one vitamin C twenty (120) days before the elections Provided, That, any elective official, whether national or local, speed for any office other than the one which he/she i s holding in a permanent capacity, except for president and vice-president, shall be deemed resigned only upon the start of the campaign period corresponding to the position for which he/she is running Provided, further, That, unlawful acts or omissions applicable to a candidate shall take way out upon the start of the aforesaid campaign period Provided, finally, That, for purposes of the May 11, 1998 elections, the deadline for filing of the certificate of candidacy for the positions of chairperson, Vice President, Senators and candidates under the Party-List System as well as petitions for registration and/or manifestation to participate in the Party-List System shall be on February 9, 1998 while the deadline for the filing of certificate of candidacy for other positions shall be on March 27, 1998. The official ballots shall be printed by the National notion baron and/or the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas at the price comparable with that of mysterious printers under proper secu rity measures which the Commission shall adopt. The Commission may read the services of private printers upon certification by the National Printing Office/ Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas that it cannot meet the printing requirements. Accredited political parties and deputized citizens arms of the Commission may assign watchers in the printing, terminus and distribution of official ballots.To hinder the use of fake ballots, the Commission through the Committee shall ensure that the straight number on the ballot stub shall be printed in charismatic ink that shall be easily detectable by inexpensive hardware and shall be impossible to reproduce on a photo feigning machine, and that identification marks, magnetic strips, bar codes and other technical and security markings, are provided on the ballot. The official ballots shall be printed and distributed to each city/municipality at the rate of one (1) ballot for every registered voter with a provision of additional four (4) ballots p er precinct. Sec. 12. surrogate of candidates. In case of valid substitutions after the official ballots have been printed, the votes envision for the substituted candidates shall be considered votes for the substitutes. Sec. 13. Ballot box. There shall be in each precinct on election day a ballot box with such arctic features that the Commission may prescribe and of such size as to retain the official ballots without folding them. For the purpose of the May 11, 1998 elections, there shall be two (2) ballot boxes for each precinct, one (1) for the national ballots and one (I) for the local ballots. Sec. 14. agency in voting. The voter shall be given a ballot by the chairman of the Board of Election Inspectors. The voter shall then proceed to a voting booth to accomplish his/her ballot. If a voter spoils his/her ballot, he/she may be issued another ballot subject to Sec. 11 of this Act.No voter may be allowed to change his/her ballot more than once. After the voter has voted, he/she shall affix his/her thumbmark on the corresponding space in the voting record. The chairman shall apply indelible ink on the voters right forefinger and affix his/her signature in the space provided for such purpose in the ballot. The voter shall then personally drop his/her ballot on the ballot box. For the purpose of the May 11, 1998 elections, each voter shall be given one (1) national and one (1) local ballot by the Chairperson. The voter shall, after dribbleing his/her vote, personally drop the ballots in their respective(prenominal) ballot boxes. Sec. 15. Closing of polls. After the close of voting, the board shall enter in the minutes the number of registered voters who actually voted, the number and serial number of jobless and spoiled ballots, the serial number of the self-locking metal seal to be used in sealing the ballot box. The board shall then place the minutes inside the ballot box and thereafter close, lock and seal the same with padlocks, self-locking meta l seals or any other synthetic rubber devices that the Commission may authorize. The chairman of the Board of Election Inspectors shall publicly annunciate that the votes shall be counted at a designated counting center where the board shall have a bun in the oven the ballot box containing the ballots and other election documents and paraphernalia.For the purpose of the May 11, 1998 elections, the chairman of the Board of Election Inspectors shall publicly announce that the votes for president, vice-president, senators and parties, organizations or coalitions participating in the party-list system shall be counted at a designated counting center. During the transport of the ballot box containing the national ballots and other documents, the fourth member of the board shall be escorted by representatives from the Armed Forces of the Philippines or from the Philippine National Police, citizens arm, and if available, representatives of political parties and candidates. Sec. 16. pre nomen of Counting Centers. The Commission shall designate counting center(s) which shall be a public place within the city/municipality or in such other places as may be designated by the Commission when peace and browse conditions so require, where the official ballots cast in various precincts of the city/municipality shall be counted. The election officer shall post prominently in his/her office, in the publicise boards at the city/municipal hall and in three (3) other crying(prenominal) places in the city/municipality, the notice on the designated counting center(s) for at least fifteen (15) days prior to election day. For the purpose of the May 11, 1998 elections, the Commission shall designate a central counting center(s) which shall be a public place within the city or municipality, as in the case of the National Capital Region and in highly urbanize areas.The Commission may designate other counting center(s) where the national ballots cast from various precincts of diffe rent municipalities shall be counted using the automated system. The Commission shall post prominently a notice thereof, for at least fifteen (15) days prior to election day, in the office of the election officer, on the publicise boards at the municipal hall and in three (3) other conspicuous places in the municipality. Sec. 17. Counting procedure. (a) The counting of votes shall be public and conducted in the designated counting center(s). (b) The ballots shall be counted by the machine by precinct in the browse of their arriver at the counting center.The election officer or his/her representative shall log the sequence of arrival of the ballot boxes and indicate their condition. Thereafter, the board shall, in the presence of the watchers and representatives of accredited citizens arm, political parties/candidates, open the ballot box, retrieve the ballots and minutes of voting. It shall verify whether the number of ballots tallies with the data in the minutes. If there are excess ballots, the poll clerk, without looking at the ballots, shall publicly draw out at stochastic ballots equal to the excess and without looking at the contents thereof, place them in an envelope which shall be marked excess ballots.The envelope shall be stiff and signed by the members of the board and placed in the compartment for spoiled ballots. (c) The election officer or any authorized official or any member of the board shall feed the valid ballots into the machine without interruption until all the ballots for the precincts are counted. (d) The board shall remain at the counting center until all the official ballots for the precinct are counted and all reports are properly accomplished. For the purpose of the May 11, 1998 elections, the ballots shall be counted by precinct by the special members of the board in the look provided in paragraph (b) hereof. Sec. 18. Election returns. After the ballots of the precincts have been counted, the election officer or any officia l authorized by the Commission shall, in the presence of watchers and representatives of the accredited citizens arm, political parties/ candidates, if any, store the results in a data retention device and print copies of the election returns of each precinct. The printed election returns shall be signed and thumbmarked by the fourth member and COMELEC authorized representative and evidence to by the election officer or authorized representative. The Chairman of the Board shall then publicly read and announce the total number of votes obtained by each candidate based on the election returns.Thereafter, the copies of the election returns shall be sealed and placed in the proper envelopes for distribution as follows A. In the election of president, vice-president, senators and party-list system (1) The first replicate shall be delivered to the city or municipal board of canvassers (2) The second duplicate, to the Congress, directed to the President of the Senate (3) The 3rd red uplicate, to the Commission (4) The fourth copy, to the citizens arm authorized by the Commission to conduct an wildcat count. In the conduct of the drumhead quick count by any accredited citizens arm, the Commission shall promulgate rules and regulations to ensure, among others, that said citizens arm releases in the rder of their arrival one hundred percent (100%) results of a precinct indicating the precinct, municipality or city, province and office Provided, however, that, the count shall continue until all precincts shall have been reported. (5) The fifth copy, to the dominant majority party as set(p) by the Commission in compliance with law (6) The sixth copy, to the dominant nonage party as determined by the Commission in agreement with law and (7) The seventh copy shall be deposited inside the compartment of the ballot box for valid ballots. The citizens arm shall provide copies of the election returns at the expense of the requesting party. For the purpose of the Ma y 11, 1998 elections, after the national ballots have been counted, the COMELEC authorized representative shall implement the provisions of paragraph A hereof. B.In the election of local officials and members of the bear of Representatives (1) The first copy shall be delivered to the city or municipal board of canvassers (2) The second copy, to the Commission (3) The third copy, to the provincial board of canvassers (4) The fourth copy, to the citizens arm authorized by the Commission to conduct an unofficial count. In the conduct of the unofficial quick count by any accredited citizens arm, the Commission shall promulgate rules and regulations to ensure, among others, that said citizens arm releases in the redact of their arrival one hundred percent (100%) results of a precinct indicating the precinct, municipality or city, province and region Provided, however, That, the count shall continue until all precincts shall have been reported. 5) The fifth copy, to the dominant majorit y party as determined by the Commission in accordance with law (6) The sixth copy, to the dominant minority party as determined by the Commission in accordance with law and (7) The seventh copy shall be deposited inside the compartment of the ballot box for valid ballots. The citizens arm shall provide copies of election returns at the expense of the requesting party. After the votes from all precincts have been counted, a consolidated report of votes for each candidate shall be printed. After the printing of the election returns, the ballots shall be returned to the ballot box, which shall be locked, sealed and delivered to the city/municipal treasurer for safekeeping. The treasurer shall immediately provide the Commission and the election officer with a record of the serial come of the ballot boxes and the corresponding metal seals. Sec. 19.Custody and accountability of ballots. The election officer and the treasurer of the city/municipality as deputy of the Commission shall hav e joint custody and accountability of the official ballots, accountable forms and other election documents as well as ballot boxes containing the official ballots cast. The ballot boxes shall not be opened for three (3) months unless the Commission orders otherwise. Sec. 20. Substitution of Chairman and Members of the Board of Canvassers. In case of non-availability, absence, disqualification due to relationship, or incapacity for any cause of the chairman, the Commission shall appoint as substitute, a ranking lawyer of the Commission.With respect to the other members of the board, the Commission shall appoint as substitute the following in the order named the provincial auditor, the register of deeds, the clerk of court nominated by the executive director measure of the regional trial court, or any other available appointive provincial official in the case of the provincial board of canvassers the officials in the city corresponding to those enumerated in the case of the city bo ard of canvassers and the municipal administrator, the municipal assessor, the clerk of court nominated by the judge of the municipal trial court, in the case of the municipal board of canvassers. Sec. 21. canvassing by Provincial, City, District and Municipal Boards of Canvassers. The city or municipal board of canvassers shall canvass the votes for the president, vice-president, senators, and parties, organizations or coalitions participating under the party-list system by consolidating the results contained in the data storage devices used in the printing of the election returns.Upon closedown of the canvass, it shall print the certificate of canvass of votes for president, vice-president, senators and members of the base of Representatives and elective provincial officials and thereafter, thrill the elected city or municipal officials, as the case may be. The city board of canvassers of cities comprising one (1) or more legislative districts shall canvass the votes for pres ident, vice-president, senators, members of the category of Representatives and elective city officials by consolidating the results contained in the data storage devices used in the printing of the election returns. Upon limit of the canvass, the board shall print the canvass of votes for president, vice-president, and senators and thereafter, announce the elected members of the House of Representatives and city officials.In the metro Manila area, each municipality comprising a legislative district shall have a district board of canvassers which shall canvass the votes for president, vice-president, senators, members of the House of Representatives and elective municipal officials by consolidating the results contained in the data storage devices used in the printing of the election returns. Upon closing of the canvass, it shall print the certificate of canvass of votes for president, vice-president, and senators and thereafter, proclaim the elected members of the House of Rep resentatives and municipal officials. Each component municipality in a legislative district in the pipe Manila area shall have a municipal board of canvassers which shall canvass the votes for president, vice-president, senators, members of the House of Representatives and elective municipal officials by consolidating the results contained in the data storage devices used in the printing of the election returns.Upon completion of the canvass, it shall prepare the certificate of canvass of votes for president, vice-president, senators, members of the House of Representatives and thereafter, proclaim the elected municipal officials. The district board of canvassers of each legislative district comprising two (2) municipalities in the Metro Manila area shall canvass the votes for president, vice-president, senators and members of the House of Representatives by consolidating the results contained in the data storage devices submitted by the municipal board of canvassers of the compone nt municipalities. Upon completion of the canvass, it shall print a certificate of canvass of votes for president, vice-president and senators and thereafter, proclaim the elected members of the House of Representatives in the legislative district.The district/provincial board of canvassers shall canvass the votes for president, vice-president, senators, members of the House of Representatives and elective provincial officials by consolidating the results contained in the data storage devices submitted by the board of canvassers of the municipalities and component cities. Upon completion of the canvass, it shall print the certificate of canvass of votes for president, vice-president and senators and thereafter, proclaim the elected members of the House of Representatives and the provincial officials. The municipal, city, district and provincial certificates of canvass of votes shall each be supported by a statement of votes. The Commission shall adopt adequate and effective measures to preserve the integrity of the data storage devices at the various levels of the boards of canvassers. Sec. 22. Number of copies of Certificates of Canvass of Votes and their distribution. (a) The certificate of canvass of votes for president, vice-president, senators, members of the House of Representatives, parties, organizations or coalitions participating under the party-list system and elective provincial officials shall be printed by the city or municipal board of canvassers and distributed as follows (1)The first copy shall be delivered to the provincial board of canvassers for use in the canvass of election results for president, vice-president, senators, members of the House of Representatives, parties, organizations or coalitions participating under the party-list system and elective provincial officials (2) The second copy shall be sent to the Commission (3) The third copy shall be kept by the chairman of the board and (4) The fourth copy shall be given to the citizens arm designated by the Commission to conduct an unofficial count. It shall be the duty of the citizens arm to furnish independent candidates copies of the certificate of canvass at the expense of the requesting party. The board of canvassers shall furnish all registered parties copies of the certificate of canvass at the expense of the requesting party. b) The certificate of canvass of votes for president, vice-president and senators, parties, organizations or coalitions participating under the party-list system shall be printed by the city boards of canvassers of cities comprising one or more legislative districts, by provincial boards of canvassers and by district boards of canvassers in the Metro Manila area, and other highly urbanized areas and distributed as follows (1)The first copy shall be sent to Congress, directed to the President of the Senate for use in the canvas of election results for president and vice-president (2) The second copy shall be sent to the Commission for use in the canvass of the election results for senators (3) The third copy shall be kept by the chairman of the board and (4) The fourth copy shall be given to the citizens arm designated by the Commission to conduct an unofficial count. It shall be the duty of the citizens arm to furnish independent candidates copies of the certificate of canvass at the expense of the requesting party. The board of canvassers shall furnish all registered parties copies of the certificate of canvass at the expense of the requesting party. c) The certificates of canvass printed by the provincial, district, city or municipal boards of canvassers shall be signed and thumbmarked by the chairman and members of the board and the principal watchers, if available. Thereafter, it shall be sealed and placed inside an envelope which shall likewise be properly sealed. In all instances, where the Board of Canvassers has the duty to furnish registered political parties with copies of the certificate of canvass, the tending(p) election returns shall be attached thereto, where appropriate. Sec. 23. National Board of Canvassers for Senators. The chairman and members of the Commission on Elections sitting en banc, shall compose the national board of canvassers for senators.It shall canvass the results for senators by consolidating the results contained in the data storage devices submitted by the district, provincial and city boards of canvassers of those cities which comprise one or more legislative districts. Thereafter, the national board shall proclaim the winning candidates for senators. Sec. 24. Congress as the National Board of Canvassers for President and Vice-President. The Senate and the House of Representatives in joint public session shall compose the national board of canvassers for president and vice-president. The returns of every election for president and vice-president duly restricted by the board of canvassers of each province or city, shall be communicate to the Congre ss, directed to the president of the Senate.Upon receipt of the certificates of canvass, the president of the Senate shall, not later than thirty (30) days after the day of the election, open all the certificates in the presence of the Senate and the House of Representatives in joint public session and the Congress upon mark of the authenticity and the due execution thereof in the manner provided by law, canvass all the results for president and vice-president by consolidating the results contained in the data storage devices submitted by the district, provincial and city boards of canvassers and thereafter, proclaim the winning candidates for president and vice-president. Sec. 25. Voters education. The Commission together with and in support of accredited citizens arms shall carry out a continuing and systematic campaign through newspapers of general circulation, receiving set and ther media forms, as well as through seminars, symposia, fora and other non-traditional means to t utor the public and fully inform the electorate about the automated election system and inculcate values on honest, peaceful and orderly elections. Sec. 26. Supervision and control. The System shall be under the exclusive supervision and control of the Commission. For this purpose, there is hereby created an information technology department in the Commission to carry out the full administration and carrying into action of the System. The Commission shall take immediate locomote as may be indispensable for the acquisition, installation, administration, storage, and maintenance of equipment and devices, and to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. Sec. 27. Oversight Committee. An Oversight Committee is hereby created composed of three (3) representatives each from the Senate and the House of Representatives and three (3) from the Commission on Elections to manage and evaluate the implementation of this Act. A report to the Se nate and the House of Representatives shall be submitted within ninety (90) days from the date of election. The oversight committee may ask competent consultants for project monitoring and information technology concerns related to the implementation and improvement of the modern election system. The oversight committee shall be provided with the necessary funds to carry out its duties. Sec. 28.Designation of other dates for certain pre-election acts. If it shall no longer be reasonably possible to observe the periods and dates prescribed by law for certain pre-election acts, the Commission shall fix other periods and dates in order to ensure accomplishment of the activities so voters shall not be deprived of their suffrage. Sec. 29. Election offenses. In addition to those enumerated in Sec. s 261 and 262 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, As Amended, the following acts shall be penalized as election offenses, whether or not said acts affect the electoral process or results (a) Utilizin g without authorization, tampering with, destroying or stealing 1) Official ballots, election returns, and certificates of canvass of votes used in the System and (2)Electronic devices or their components, peripherals or supplies used in the System such as counting machine, storehouse pack/diskette, memory pack receiver and computer set (b) meddling with, impeding, absconding for purpose of gain, preventing the installation or use of computer counting devices and the processing, storage, generation and transmission of election results, data or information and (c) Gaining or cause access to using, altering, destroying or disclosing any computer data, program, system software, network, or any computer-related devices, facilities, hardware or equipment, whether classified or declassified. Sec. 30. Applicability. The provisions of Batas Pambansa Blg. 81, As Amended, otherwise known as the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, and other election laws not inconsistent with this Act shall apply. Sec. 31. Rules and Regulations. The Commission shall promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation and enforcement of this Act including such measures that will address possible difficulties and confusions brought about by the two-ballot system. The Commission may consult its accredited citizens arm for this purpose. Sec. 32. Appropriations. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current categorys appropriations of the Commission. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the round-the-clock implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual prevalent Appropriations Act.In case of deficiency in the funding requirements herein provided, such amount as may be necessary shall be augment from the current contingent fund in the General Appropriations Act. Sec. 33. Separability clause. If, for any reason, any Sec. or provision of this Act or any part thereof, or the application of such Sec. , prov ision or portion is declared handicap or unconstitutional, the remainder thereof shall not be affected by such declaration.