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Philippines

2016

2018

Bans and limits on private income

Public funding

Regulations of spending

Reporting, oversight and sanctions

Question	Value
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties?	Code Yes
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?	Code Yes
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?	Code Yes
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates?	Code Yes
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties?	Code No
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates?	Code No
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties?	Code Yes
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?	Code Yes
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?	Code Yes Source Sec 4 (c) (d) (e) (page 3) ?No contribution for purposes of partisan political activity shall be made, directly or indirectly by any of the following:c. Natural and juridicial persons who hold contracts or subcontracts to supply, the government or any of list its divisions, subdivisions or instrumetalities, with goods or services or to perform construction or other works;d. Natural and juridicial persons who have been granted franchises, incentives, exemptions, allocations, or similar privileges or concessions by the government or any of its divisions, subdivisions, or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled coorporations;e. Natural and juridicial persons who, within one year prior to the date of the elections, have been granted loans or other accomodations in excess of P100,000.00 by the government or any of its divisions, subdivisions, or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled coorporations;? (Source: Republic of the Philippines. Commission On Elections. Manila. Resolution No. 8944.) Batas Pambansa Bilang 881 Omnibus Election Code Of The Philippines, December 3, 1985, Sec 95 (c) (d) (e) (page 30) ?(c) Natural and juridical persons who hold contracts or sub-contracts to supply thegovernment or any of its divisions, subdivisions or instrumentalities, with goods orservices or to perform construction or other works;(d) Natural and juridical persons who have been granted franchises, incentives,exemptions, allocations or similar privileges or concessions by the government or any ofits divisions, subdivisions or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlledcorporations;(e) Natural and juridical persons who, within one year prior to the date of the election,have been granted loans or other accommodations in excess of P100,000 by thegovernment or any of its divisions, subdivisions or instrumentalities includinggovernment-owned or controlled corporations;' (Source: Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, 1985)
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?	Code Yes Source Sec 95 (c) (d), (page 30) ?(c) Natural and juridical persons who hold contracts or sub-contracts to supply thegovernment or any of its divisions, subdivisions or instrumentalities, with goods orservices or to perform construction or other works;(d) Natural and juridical persons who have been granted franchises, incentives, exemptions, allocations or similar privileges or concessions by the government or any ofits divisions, subdivisions or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations;?Sec 94 (a), (page 29) ?Definitions. - As used in this Article:(a) The term 'contribution' includes a gift, donation, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money or anything of value, or a contract, promise or agreement to contribute,whether or not legally enforceable, made for the purpose of influencing the results of the elections but shall not include services rendered without compensation by individualsvolunteering a portion or all of their time in behalf of a candidate or political party. It shall also include the use of facilities voluntarily donated by other persons, the moneyvalue of which can be assessed based on the rates prevailing in the area.' (Source: Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, 1985)
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?	Code Yes Source Sec 4 (c) (d) (e) (page 3) ?No contribution for purposes of partisan political activity shall be made, directly or indirectly by any of the following:c. Natural and juridicial persons who hold contracts or subcontracts to supply, the government or any of list its divisions, subdivisions or instrumetalities, with goods or services or to perform construction or other works;d. Natural and juridicial persons who have been granted franchises, incentives, exemptions, allocations, or similar privileges or concessions by the government or any of its divisions, subdivisions, or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled coorporations;e. Natural and juridicial persons who, within one year prior to the date of the elections, have been granted loans or other accomodations in excess of P100,000.00 by the government or any of its divisions, subdivisions, or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled coorporations;? (Source: Republic of the Philippines. Commission On Elections. Manila. Resolution No. 8944.) Batas Pambansa Bilang 881 Omnibus Election Code Of The Philippines, December 3, 1985, Sec 95 (c) (d) (e) (page 30) ?(c) Natural and juridical persons who hold contracts or sub-contracts to supply thegovernment or any of its divisions, subdivisions or instrumentalities, with goods orservices or to perform construction or other works;(d) Natural and juridical persons who have been granted franchises, incentives,exemptions, allocations or similar privileges or concessions by the government or any ofits divisions, subdivisions or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlledcorporations;(e) Natural and juridical persons who, within one year prior to the date of the election,have been granted loans or other accommodations in excess of P100,000 by thegovernment or any of its divisions, subdivisions or instrumentalities includinggovernment-owned or controlled corporations;' (Source: Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, 1985)
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?	Code Yes Source Sec 95 (c) (d), (page 30) ?(c) Natural and juridical persons who hold contracts or sub-contracts to supply thegovernment or any of its divisions, subdivisions or instrumentalities, with goods orservices or to perform construction or other works;(d) Natural and juridical persons who have been granted franchises, incentives, exemptions, allocations or similar privileges or concessions by the government or any ofits divisions, subdivisions or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations;?Sec 94 (a), (page 29) ?Definitions. - As used in this Article:(a) The term 'contribution' includes a gift, donation, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money or anything of value, or a contract, promise or agreement to contribute,whether or not legally enforceable, made for the purpose of influencing the results of the elections but shall not include services rendered without compensation by individualsvolunteering a portion or all of their time in behalf of a candidate or political party. It shall also include the use of facilities voluntarily donated by other persons, the moneyvalue of which can be assessed based on the rates prevailing in the area.' (Source: Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, 1985)
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?	Code Yes Comment The use of public funds in election campaigns and the construction of public works during the pre-election period are banned.
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period?	Code No
15. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period, what is the limit?	Code Not applicable
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election?	Code No Comment blank
17. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election, what is the limit?	Code Not applicable
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate?	Code No
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit?	Code Not applicable
20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign?
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties?
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates?
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities?
24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes?
27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system?

Question	Value
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties?	Code No public funding available
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Not applicable
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Not applicable
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?	Code Not applicable
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code No Comment The EMB shall establish rules to ensure that all political parties access media on the same terms. This can include free access, but this is not assured. Candidates are however provided free access.
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code Not applicable
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?	Code Yes
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?	Code No
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates?	Code Not applicable
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties?	Code No

Question	Value
38. Is there a ban on vote buying?	Code Yes
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend?	Code Yes
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?	Code Limits are calculated by the number of voters in each constituency. Comment The limit is currently 5 pesos per voter in each constituency where the political party fielded a candidate (note that candidates have their own spending limit).
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend?	Code Yes
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?	Code For Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates 10 pesos [I$ 0,42] for every registered voter, for other candidates 3 pesos [I$ 0,12], with an additional 5 pesos [I$ 0,21] allowed for independent candidates. Comment blank
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities?
44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist?

Question	Value
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances?	Code No
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code Yes
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code Yes
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances?
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public?	Code No
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?	Code Yes
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income?
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending?
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates?	Code EMB Comment COMELEC or provincial/municipal election supervisors. Reports must be submitted 30 days after the election to the EMB and the local EMB offices, depending on the position contested by the candidate. Political parties must submit their reports to the EMB central office in Manila. This is based on regulations passed by the EMB every election.
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?	Code EMB
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations?
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions?	Code Fines Prison Loss of nomination of candidate Loss of political rights Other Comment Sanctions include fines, being banned from holding office. A candidate winning election cannot take her/his seat until statement has been filed. Criminal sanctions include prison sentences from one to six years.

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Political Finance Database

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