Republic Act No. 8746

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

Section 1. Amendment to Section 1 of Republic Act No. 7647

Section 1 of Republic Act No. 7647, as amended, is hereby further amended by fixing the term of office for officials elected on September 9, 1996, to read as follows:

"Sec. 1. The regular elections for regional governor, regional vice-governor and members of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, shall be held on the second Monday of March, 1993 and every three (3) years thereafter. Their terms of office shall commence at noon of the thirty-first of March next following their election and shall expire at noon of the thirty-first of March three (3) years thereafter pursuant to Republic Act Numbered Six thousand seven hundred thirty-four, otherwise known as the Organic Act of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. However, for the year nineteen hundred and ninety-six, the elections for regional governor, regional vice-governor and members of the Regional Legislative Assembly shall be held on September 9, 1996. The regional governor, regional vice-governor and the members of the Regional Legislative Assembly elected in nineteen hundred and ninety-six shall assume office at twelve o’clock noon on the thirtieth day of September next following their election and shall end at twelve o’clock noon on the thirtieth day of September 1999: Provided, That effective 1999, the regular elections for regional governor, regional vice-governor and members of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), shall be held on the second Monday of September and every three (3) years thereafter pursuant to Republic Act No. 6734, otherwise known as the Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Provided, however, That the incumbent regional governor, regional vice-governor and members of the Regional Legislative Assembly elected in September 1996 shall continue in office until September 30, 1999."

Section 2. Declaration of Nullity of List of Voters

Upon approval of this Act, the existing certified list of voters in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao shall cease to be effective and operative.

Section 3. Registration of Voters

There shall be a general registration of voters on May 8 and 9, 1999 and a special registration of voters on such dates as may be determined by the Commission on Elections. Both registrations shall be under the direct administrative control of the Commission.

Section 4. Voter ‘s Photograph and Identification Card

All copies of the application for registration shall contain the applicant’s photograph, to be taken at the time of the filing of the application for registration and at the expense of the Commission. Each voter shall be issued a voter’s identification card as may be determined by the Commission.

Section 5. Authority of the Commission to Determine the Appropriate System Design

The Commission is authorized to determine the appropriate system design and the particular areas where the computerization of electoral process shall be implemented. The decision shall be based on the following factors: appropriateness of technology, available physical infrastructure, technical capability of election officials, costs and other objective considerations.

Section 6. Authority of the President to Release Funds for Registration of Voters

The President of the Philippines is hereby authorized to set aside and release the amount of One hundred fifty million pesos (PhP 150,000,000) from the President’s contingent fund to defray the expenses for the registration of voters.

Section 7. Separability Clause

If any provision of this Act is held unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and binding.

Section 8. Repealing Clause

All laws, presidential decrees, rules and regulations insofar as they are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Section 9

Effectivity. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: March 4, 1999