Comelec grants 4 more petitions of gov’t agencies to continue projects, programs

Comelec building

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) granted four more petitions of various government agencies for the continuation of their programs and projects that are necessary to Filipinos despite the campaign period.

The Comelec exempted the Department of Agriculture, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Rice Research Institute, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) from the prohibition against release, disbursement, or expenditures of public funds amid the election period.

“We exempted or we granted the petition of the Department of Agriculture on the different programs and projects, more specifically the Fuel Discount to Farmers and Fisherfolk Program,” said Commissioner George Garcia in a press briefing.

“We likewise granted the petition for exemption of  the Department of Labor on the projects of the DOLE because these are really necessary,” he added.

“Likewise, the petition for exemption of the PhilRice, Philippine Rice Research Institute, and finally, among other things, we likewise granted the petition of Pagcor on several programs and projects that Pagcor is to implement within the 45-day period of the campaign,” the commissioner went on.

Earlier, the poll body likewise exempted programs from the ban that benefit the public such as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s fuel subsidy for drivers and the Office of Vice President Leni Robredo’s pandemic programs.

Based on Comelec Resolution No. 10747, the prohibition on the release, disbursement, or expenditure of public funds is effective from March 25 until May 8, a day before the elections.

READ: Comelec resolutions

JPV