By Leslie Ann Aquino The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) welcomed the approval on third and final reading of a bill increasing the authorized campaign expenses of candidates and political parties. PPCRV chairperson Rene Sarmiento (photo by mb.com.ph) PPCRV chairperson Rene Sarmiento said the approval of House Bill 7295 is something that is "long overdue." "The bill is very long overdue," he said in an interview. Sarmiento said it’s about time that the amount to be spent by every candidate be increased as the amounts in Republic Act 7166 are no longer realistic. "The amounts to be spent are found in Republic Act No.7166 which was signed into law in 1991. Many changes had taken place since then: prices of basic and less basic commodities and our population has risen astronomically. So also our voting population," he said. "Time to review this anachronistic provision and make it realistic and responsive!" Sarmiento added. The PPCRV head said it is "wise and practical" that the amount to be spent by every candidate be increased. The House of Representatives approved HB 7295 in a vote of 188-0 last week. Under the measure, the authorized amount that a candidate may spend for election campaign shall be as follows: P50 for President and P40 for Vice President; P30 for senators, district congressman, governor, vice governor, board members, mayor, vice mayor and councilors and for partylist parties, P10 for every voter currently registered in the constituency where the candidate filed the certificate of candidacy. Political parties may spend P30 for every voter currently registered in the constituency or constituencies where it has official candidates. On the other hand, an independent candidate or a candidate without any political party and without support from any political party may be allowed to spend P40 for every voter.