Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas on Tuesday appealed to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to approve the petitions of El Niño-affected local government units (LGUs) seeking exemption from the ban on the disbursement of public funds during the election period.
“I call on the Comelec to grant the petitions so our farmers and other affected communities can receive the appropriate assistance they need from the government at the soonest time possible,” said Roxas in a statement to the media.
“We are faced with a very serious problem and we now ask the Comelec to expedite the solution. This call is an invitation for the Comelec to be part of this solution,” he said.
Some governors have declared their respective provinces under a state of calamity as millions worth of crops have been destroyed by the drought caused by El Niño.
READ: Cebu City declares state of calamity; P13.4M crops lost, water supply declines
To be able to give assistance to their constituents, the local leaders have filed a petition asking Comelec to either issue certificates of exception for the social welfare services of the provincial governments or exempt them from the election ban on the release, disbursement, or expenditure of public funds.
Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code prohibits the release, disbursement or expenditures of public funds from March 25 to May 8 in line with the May 9 national and local elections.
“Kinikilala natin ang paghihirap ng ating mga magsasaka at ng kanilang mga komunidad at hindi katanggap-tanggap para sa akin na kung sino pa ang nagbibigay sa atin ng pagkain, sila pa ang nagugutom,” he said.
Among the provinces, cities and towns under state of calamity due to the El Niño phenomenon are Isabela, Quirino, Bukidnon, Davao del Sur, Cotabato, Maguindanao, Basilan, Guimaras, Davao City, Cebu, and Bohol. RC
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