Comelec ban affects relief ops in Agaton-hit towns in Guian, says mayor

MANILA, Philippines — The relief operations in most areas in Guian, Eastern Samar, which have been reeling in the aftermath of Tropical Depression (TD) “Agaton,” have been affected by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ban on public spending, its mayor said on Tuesday.

Guian municipal mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan, however, said they will course the distribution of the relief packs for 6,457 affected families through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) instead.

The Comelec has granted DSWD exemption from the election ban on public spending for infrastructure and other projects.

“That is the problem now because there is a Comelec prohibition,” Gonzales-Kwan told ABS-CBN News Online.

“Nagtatanong ako sa Comelec, hindi daw pwede, there is a need to ask exemption from Comelec. Hindi po namin alam kung ano ang aming gagawin, kaya lang, this is a matter of life and death, even if there is ano, ipapamigay ko. Hindi yung mga kandidato ang magbibigay, office na lang ng DSWD ang magbibigay,” she added.

(I asked the Comelec, they said it is not allowed and there is a need to ask for exemption from Comelec. We don’t know what to do, but this is a matter of life and death, even if there is [a ban], I will give it away. But it’s not the candidate who will distribute but the office of the DSWD.)

The mayor also said they will make an appeal to the Comelec to exempt the local government from the public spending ban.

Meanwhile, the mayor said there was no casualty reported on the island as of Tuesday morning.

The TD Agaton made its first landfall in Calicoan Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, at 7:30 am on Sunday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Pagasa said the center of Tropical Depression Agaton is now in the vicinity of Marabut, Samar.

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