REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5494 - AN ACT APPROPRIATING TWENTY-EIGHT MILLION PESOS TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE REGULAR ELECTIONS FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, EIGHT SENATORS, AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES INCLUDING SPECIAL ELECTIONS OF LOCAL OFFICIALS PROVIDED BY LAW TO BE HELD ON THE SECOND TUESDAY OF NOVEMBER, NINETEEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY-NINE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES CONNECTED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF ELECTION LAWS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. There is hereby appropriated, out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of twenty-eight million pesos to be spent, subject to auditing and accounting regulations and to allotment of funds in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act Numbered Nine hundred ninety-two for payment of the expenses that may be incurred in connection with, and incidental to, the holding of the regular elections for President and Vice-president of the Republic of the Philippines, for the eight Senators who will succeed those whose terms office will expire on December thirtieth, nineteen hundred and sixty-nine, and Members of the House of Representatives, including special elections of local officials provided by law; Provided , That the funds appropriated this Act shall be available for expenses for the elections nineteen hundred sixty-nine incurred prior to the effectivity of this Act and shall continue to be available until all expenses of said elections shall have been paid, and shall be given priority of release upon request of the Commission on Elections: Provided, further , That the Commission on Elections is authorized to use such sums as may be necessary from the appropriation authorized in this Act for the implementation of Republic Act Numbered Thirty-five hundred eighty-eight, as amended, including the appointment of additional election registrars in places where there are backlogs in registration and/or where the number of registered voters are less than the number registered in previous elections, for the payment of prior years’ election obligations, and for other purposes connected with the administration and enforcement of election laws: And provided, finall y, That not more than one million two hundred fifty thousand pesos shall be available to pay prior years1 election obligations.

The Commission on Elections shall submit a report of the expenditures of the amount appropriated herein to Congress and to the President within one month after the opening of the next regular session of Congress.

SEC. 2. For services rendered in connection with the election on election day, provincial, city, municipal and municipal district treasurers shall, in addition to their salaries receive a per diem of forty-five pesos.

SEC. 3. The Commission on Elections is hereby authorized to pay out of the funds appropriated in this Act, transportation expenses of election registrars when they hold office in any district, barrio or sitio within then jurisdictions to register voters and for other travels in connection with the election, subject to the rules and regulations that the Commission may promulgate in con­nection herewith.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, June 21, 1969.