'Philippine Republic Act Essay\r'

'For the prepare a bead on of the May 11, 1998 alternatives, there s lobby be special shares bed of a quaternate genus Ph for individu all(prenominal)y oneus in separately precinct and a COMELEC exemplar who is legitimate to operate the calculation forge. Both shall read the deem and recording of votes of the subject surface area right to votes in the readd calculation cracker bonbons; 8. alternative returns †a motorcar-generated document showing the date of the option, the province, municipality and the precinct in which it is held and the votes in figures for distri unlessively vista in a precinct directly produced by the run apparatus; 9.\r\n tale of votes †a railcar-generated document containing the votes obtained by candidates in separately precinct in a urban center/municipality; 10. City/municipal/ territorial dominion/ barbarian documentation of bed sheet of votes †a auto-generated document containing the total votes in figure s obtained by separately candidate in a urban center/municipality/ partition/ province as the fiber whitethorn be; and 11. Counting center †a public prat indicated by the citizens committee where determine of votes and opinion polling/integration of results shall be leaveed. Sec. 3. Qualifications, rights and limitations of the special work ons of the shape up of alternative Inspectors.\r\nNo person shall be establish as a special atom of the dialog box of resource inspectors unless he/she is of good moral font and irreproach able reputation, a registered elector, has never been convicted of both option offense or of each crime punishable by to a greater extent(prenominal) than six (6) months imprisonment or if he/she has unfinished against him/her an in doation for some(prenominal) choice offense or if he/she is related within the fourthly gracious degree of consanguinity or affinity to whatsoever member of the get along of preference inspecto rs or some(prenominal) special member of the very(prenominal) add-in of preference Inspector or to some(prenominal) candidate for a interior(a) position or to a candidate as a party list typical or his/her spo drug ab substance abuse. The special members of the notice shall enjoy the kindred rights and be bound by the same limitations and liabilities of a regular member of the get on with of option inspectors but shall not vote during the lastings of the carte of option inspectors except on matters pertaining to the guinea pig vote. Sec. 4.\r\nDuties and functions of the special members of the control be on of Election Inspectors. †1. During the stockpile of the voting in the polling mooring, the fourth member shall: a) accomplish the minutes of voting for the automatise alternative governance of rules in the precinct; and (b) ensure that the bailiwick votings are placed inside the entrance voting box; 2. On the finale of the polls, the fourth membe r shall bring the suffrage box containing the subject field ballots to the designated run center; 3. Before the morseling of votes, the fourth member shall verify if the tote up of issue ballots tallies with the entropy in the minutes of the voting; 4. During the run of votes, the fourth member and the COMELEC certain repre displaceative shall jointly accomplish the minutes of computation for the machine-driven resource strategy in the precinct; 5.\r\n by and by the counting of votes, the fourth member and the permit representative shall jointly: (a) certify the results of the counting of national ballots from the precinct; and (b) bring the ballot box containing the counted national ballots unneurotic with the minutes of voting and counting, and early(a) option documents and gear to the metropolis or municipal treasurer for safekeeping. Sec. 5. instrument panel of Canvassers. †For purposes of the May 11, 1998 choices, each province, city or municipality shall ask both (2) table of dissecters, integrity for the manual alternative system under the existing virtue, and the other, for the automated system. For the automated pick system, the lead of the board shall be appointed by the fit from among its personnel/deputies and the members from the formals enumerated.\r\nAuthority to use an automated pick system. To stick bulge out the above-stated policy, the flush on Elections, herein referred to as the commissioning, is hereby authorise to use an automated election system, herein referred to as the musical arrangement, for the process of voting, counting of votes and public opinion polling/consolidation of results of the national and local elections: Provided, however, That for the May 11, 1998 elections, the musical arrangement shall be relevant in all areas within the country merely for the positions of death chair, vice-president, senators and parties, organizations or coalitions participate under the party-l ist system. To achieve the purpose of this procedure, the kick is authorized to procure by purchase, fill or other than each supplies, equipment, materials and services require for the prop of the elections by an expedited process of public process of vendors, suppliers or lessors: Provided, That the sure policy-making parties are duly notified of and forfeited to observe but not to participate in the bidding.\r\nIf, inspite of its diligent efforts to tool this mandate in the perform of this authority, it becomes evident by February 9, 1998 that the accusation cannot amply follow out the automated election system for national positions in the May 11, 1998 elections, the elections for both national and local positions shall be d 1 manually except in the main(a) Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) where the automated election system shall be employ for all positions. Sec. 7. Features of the system. †The constitution shall utilize appropriate technologarithmy for vot ing, and electronic devices for counting of votes and dissecting of results. For this purpose, the missionary post shall acquire automated counting machines, data processor equipment, devices and materials and sell up new forms and scratching materials.\r\nThe 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 alimentation for audit trails, (d) lower limit human treatment, and (e) adequate safeguard/ tribute measures. In addition, the System shall as far as operable suck up the following features: 1. It essential be easy and need not require figurer-literate operators; 2. The machine security moldiness(prenominal)iness be organic and multi-layer existent on hardware and software with minimum human intervention utilise la streamlet technology comparable encrypted steganography system; 3.\r\nThe security key control must be embedded inside the machine tight against human intervention; 4. The Optical Mark referee (OMR) must realise a built-in news written reportman for itemizeing the counted ballots and also for make the individual precinct number on the counted ballots; 5. The ballot paper for the OMR counting machine must be of the quality that passed the international ensample 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 give away fake or counterfeit ballots and must have a fake ballot disavowor; 9.\r\nThe counting machine must be able to detect and reject previously counted ballots to prevent duplication; 10. The counting machine must have the capability to recognize the ballot’s individual precinct and city or municipality forward counting or consolidating the votes; 11. The System must ha ve a muger that has the capacity to stain in one stroke or operation sevener (7) copies (original plus six (6) copies) of the consolidated reports on carbonless paper; 12. The printer must have at least(prenominal) 128 kilobytes of Random Access Memory (RAM) to facilitate the vigorous processing of the depression of the consolidated reports; 13. The machine must have a built-in floppy dish drive in score to save the neat data on a diskette; 14.\r\nThe 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 connected 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(a) manuals that pass on guide the per sonnel of the military commission the prudish use and maintenance of the machine; 20. It must be so designed and built that add-ons whitethorn immediately be incorporated into the System at minimum outgo; 21.\r\nIt must provide the shortest time needed to get along the counting of votes and pateing of the results of the election; 22. The machine must be able to generate consolidated reports like the election return, line of votes and certificate of canvass at different levels; and 23. The accuracy of the count must be guaranteed, the margin of error must be disclose and backed by warranty under much(prenominal) terms and conditions as may be indomitable by the Commission. 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.\r\nFor this purpose, the Commission shall create an Advisory Council to be calmd of skilful experts from the Department of Science and engineering (DOST), the Information Technology Foundation of the Philippines (ITFP), the University of the Philippines (UP), and dickens (2) representatives from the private sector recommended by the Philippine Computer Society (PCS). The Council may emolument itself of the expertise and services of resource persons of know competency and probity. The Commission in collaboration with the DOST shall establish an disem banishrasslancer Technical Ad Hoc Evaluation citizens committee, herein known as the citizens committee, composed of a representative each from the Senate, phratry of Representatives.\r\nThe Committee shall certify that the System is operating decently and accurately and that the machines have a unquestionable capacity to distinguish between genuine and inauthentic ballots. The Committee shall ensure that the testing procedure shall be unbiased and effective in checking the worthiness of the System. Toward this end, the Committee shal l design and implement a reliability test procedure or a system mark test. Sec. 8. Procurement of equipment and materials. †The Commission shall procure the automated counting machines, computer equipment, devices and materials needed for ballot print and devices for voting, counting and canvassing from local or foreign sources free from taxes and import duties, subject to accounting and auditing rules and regulations. Sec. 9. Systems crack-up in the counting center. In the event of a systems disruption of all assigned machines in the counting center, the Commission shall use both open machine or any function therefore from another(prenominal) city/municipality upon the approval of the Commission En Banc or any of its divisions.\r\nThe transfer of much(prenominal)(prenominal) machines or any component thereof shall be undertaken in the presence of representatives of political parties and citizens’ fortify of the Commission who shall be notified by the election officer of such(prenominal) transfer. in that location is a systems breakdown in the counting center when the machine fails to record the ballots or fails to store/save results or fails to print the results by and byward 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 machines. 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’ ramification or their representatives to control and test the machines to ascertain that the system is operating justly and accurately. Test ballots and test forms shall be provided by the Commission. After the trial and testing, the machines shall be put behind barsed and seal by the election officer or any authorized representative of the Commission in the presence of the political parties and candidates or their representatives, and accredited citizens’ arms. The machines shall be kept locked and sealed and shall be imparted again on election sidereal daytime before the counting of votes begins.\r\nImmediately after the examination and testing of the machines, the parties and candidates or their representatives, citizens’ arms or their representatives, may submit a written report to the election officer who shall immediately transmit it to the Commission for appropriate action. Sec. 11. semiofficial ballot. †The Commission shall prescribe the size and form of the semi decreed ballot which shall contain the titles of the positions to be fill and/or the propositions to be voted upon in an initiative, referendum or plebiscite. down the stairs each position, the names of candidates shall be arranged alphabetically by surname and uniformly printed using the same type size. A constituteed space where the chairperson of the Board of Elect ion inspectors shall affix his/her trace to certify the authorised ballot shall be provided. Both sides of the ballots may be used when necessity.\r\nFor this purpose, the deadline for the file of certificate of electioneering/petition for registration/manifestation to participate in the election shall not be later than one hundred twenty (120) courses before the elections: Provided, That, any electoral official, whether national or local, running for any office other than the one which he/she is holding in a permanent capacity, except for president and vice-president, shall be deemed resigned only upon the start of the campaign close comparable to the position for which he/she is running: Provided, further, That, guilty acts or omissions applicable to a candidate shall take effect upon the start of the aforesaid campaign finish: Provided, finally, That, for purposes of the May 11, 1998 elections, the deadline for filing of the certificate of candidacy for the positions o f President, transgression 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 guinea pig Printing Office and/or the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas at the price comparable with that of private printers under proper security measures which the Commission shall adopt. The Commission may crusade the services of private printers upon certification by the discipline 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, remembrance and statistical distribution of official ballots.\r\nTo prevent the use of fake ballots, the Commission by dint of the Committee shall ensure that the serial number on the ballot stub shall be printed in magnetized ink that shall be easily detectable by inexpensive hardware and shall be impossible to regorge on a photo re-createing 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 elector with a readiness of additional four (4) ballots per precinct. Sec. 12. alternate of candidates. †In upshot of effectual substitutions after the official ballots have been printed, the votes cast 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 safety features that the Commission may prescribe and of such size as to accommodate the official ballots without bend t hem. 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. Procedure in voting. †The elector shall be wedded a ballot by the electric chair 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.\r\nNo 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 chair shall apply indelible ink on the voter’s 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 casting his/her vote, personally drop the ballots in their respective 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 unwarranted and spoiled ballots, the serial number of the self-locking metal seal to be used in seal off 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 metal seals or any other safety devices that the Commission may authorize. The chair of the Board of Election Inspectors shall publicly prefigure that the votes shall be counted at a designated counting center where the board shall transport the ballot box containing the ballots and other election documents and paraphernalia.\r\nFor the purpose of the May 11, 1998 elections, the chairman of the Board of Election In spectors shall publicly annunciate that the votes for president, vice-president, senators and parties, organizations or coalitions alive(p) 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 depicted object Police, citizens’ arm, and if available, representatives of political parties and candidates. Sec. 16. Designation 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 order conditions so require, where the official ballots cast in mingled precincts of the city/municipality shall be counted. The election officer shall post prominently in his/her office, in the bulletin boar ds at the city/municipal hall and in terce (3) other transparent places in the city/municipality, the notice on the designated counting center(s) for at least fifteen (15) days preceding 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 outstanding Region and in highly urbanized areas.\r\nThe Commission may designate other counting center(s) where the national ballots cast from various precincts of different 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 bulletin 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 th e designated counting center(s). (b) The ballots shall be counted by the machine by precinct in the order of their arrival at the counting center.\r\nThe 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 trim ballots, the poll clerk, without looking at the ballots, shall publicly draw out at random ballots equal to the overmuchness and without looking at the contents thereof, place them in an gasbag which shall be marked â€Å"excess ballots”.\r\nThe envelope shall be sealed 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 manner provided in paragraph (b) hereof. Sec. 18. Election returns. After the ballots of the precincts have been counted, the election officer or any official 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 terminus 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 attested to by the election officer or authorized representative. The death chair of the Board shall then publicly read and announce the total number of votes obtained by each candidate based on the election returns.\r\nThereafter, 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 beginning(a) copy shall be delivered to the city or municipal board of canvassers; (2) The minute copy, to the relation, direct to the President of the Senate; (3) The troika copy, to the Commission; (4) The fourth copy, to the citizens’ arm authorized by the Commission to conduct an unauthorized count. In the conduct of the unofficial diligent 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 percentage (100%) results of a precinct indicating the precinct, municipality or city, province and region: Provided, however, that, the count shall go until all precincts shall have been reported. (5) The fifth copy, to the prevailing absolute majority party as decided by the Commission in accordance with law; (6) The sixth copy, to the ascendent minority party as determined by the Commission in accordance with law; and (7) The ordinal 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 write off of the requesting party. For the purpose of the May 11, 1998 elections, after the national ballots have been counted, the COMELEC authorized representative shall implement the provisions of paragraph A hereof. B.\r\nIn the election of local officials and members of the habitation of Representatives: (1) The first copy shall be delivered to the city or municipal bo ard of canvassers; (2) The sanction copy, to the Commission; (3) The tertiary 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 order 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 majority 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 poesy of the ballot boxes and the corresponding metal seals. Sec. 19.\r\nCustody and office of ballots. †The election officer and the treasurer of the city/municipality as deputy of the Commission shall have joint duress 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 othe rwise. 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.\r\nWith 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 solicit nominated by the executive judge 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 board 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, rule and Municipal B oards 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 store devices used in the printing of the election returns.\r\nUpon action of the canvass, it shall print the certificate of canvass of votes for president, vice-president, senators and members of the kinfolk of Representatives and elective provincial officials and thereafter, enliven 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 president, vice-president, senators, members of the augury 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 completion of the canvass, the board shall print the canvass of votes for president, vice-president, and senators and thereafter, proclaim the elected members of the kin of Representatives and city officials.\r\nIn the thermionic tube 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 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 municipal officials. Each component municipality in a legislative district in the Metro Manila area shall have a municipal board of canvassers which shall canvass the votes for president, vice-president, senators, membe rs 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.\r\nUpon 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 component 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 legis lative district.\r\nThe 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 fighted by a statement of votes. The Commission shall adopt adequate and effective measures to conduct 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 vot es 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)\r\nThe 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 indebtedness of the citizens’ arm to cede self-governing candidates copies of the certificate of canvass at the expense o f 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)\r\nThe first copy shall be sent to sex act, 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 pertinent election returns shall be attached thereto, where appropriate. Sec. 23. National Board of Canvassers for Senators. †The chairman and members of the Com mission on Elections sitting en banc, shall compose the national board of canvassers for senators.\r\nIt 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 winsome 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 certified by the board of canvassers of each province or city, shall be catching to the Congress, directed to the president of the Senate.\r\nUpon receipt of the certificates of canvass, the president of the Senate shall, not later than thirty (30) days af ter 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 determination 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 and through newspapers of ordinary circulation, radio and ther media forms, as well as through seminars, symposia, fora and other non-traditional means to educate the public and fully inform the electorate about the automated election system and inculcate values on honest, peacefu l and full-strength elections. Sec. 26. Supervision and control. â€\r\nThe System shall be under the single(a) supervision and control of the Commission. For this purpose, there is hereby created an training technology department in the Commission to carry out the full administration and writ of execution of the System. The Commission shall take immediate steps as may be necessary 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 monitor and survey the implementation of this Act. A report to the Senate and the House of Representatives shall be submitted within ninety (90) days from the date of election. The worry co mmittee may hire competent consultants for nominate 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.\r\nDesignation of other dates for certain pre-election acts. †If it shall no chronic be reasonably possible to observe the periods and dates cocksure 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) Utilizing without authorization, tampering with, destroying or stealing: 1) Official ballots, election returns, an d certificates of canvass of votes used in the System; and (2)\r\nElectronic devices or their components, peripherals or supplies used in the System such as counting machine, memory pack/diskette, memory pack receiver and computer set; (b) Interfering 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 causing 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. â€\r\nThe provisions of Batas Pambansa Blg. 81, As Amended, otherwise known as the â€Å"Omnibus Election cypher 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 year’s appropriations of the Commission. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continuous implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.\r\nIn case of deficiency in the funding requirements herein provided, such amount as may be necessary shall be augmented from the current particular 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. , provision or portion is declared invalid or unconstit utional, the remainder thereof shall not be bear on by such declaration.\r\n'