Senator Manuel "Lito" Lapid is pushing a measure that would increase the authorized campaign expenses cap during the national and local elections in the country.

Senate Bill 2460, seeks to amend Republic Act 7166, otherwise known as the "Synchronized National and Local Elections and for Electoral Reforms Act of 1991," which currently governs the allowable campaign expenses for candidates participating in Philippine elections.

The RA 7166 allows the spending limit of every candidate for president and vice president at P10 and for other candidates at P3 for every voter for the last three decades.

Lapid said the current spending limit is not applicable in the current economic situation in the country.

Hence, Lapid seeks to empower the Commission on Elections to periodically update these limits, responding to the changing economic conditions.

The senator noted that over the years, the purchasing power of the Philippine peso has diminished, leading to an increase in the cost of various campaign-related activities, including advertising, transportation, and campaign materials.

"By updating these allowable expenses, we aim to make the campaign budget more realistic and reflective of the prevailing prices of goods and services," he added.

Lapid underscored that the proposal to increase campaign expenses cap "has been long overdue" stressing that the "outdated allowable campaign expenses may inadvertently encourage candidates and political parties to underreport their actual campaign expenditures."

"This can undermine the transparency and accountability of the electoral process," he said.