THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has approved the exemption from the election ban sought by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for the distribution of fuel subsidy to drivers and operators of public utility vehicles.
In a press conference on late Wednesday, Elections Commissioner George Garcia said: “The Comelec is not the commission that will prevent a beautiful project like this. We just wanted to make sure that this will be properly implemented.”
Garcia said the Commission en banc will release its official resolution on the issue until Friday.
The resolution, he said, would include conditions for the exemption.
Garcia said the program of the LTFRB will be subject to strict monitoring, such as the submission of the parameters of the implementation, and the specific target beneficiaries.
“We have to monitor how the department is implementing the fuel subsidy program because we want that the money is well spent and is in accordance with the policy of the president,” said Garcia.
The LTFRB has temporarily suspended the allocation of fuel subsidy for PUV drivers and operators due to the election public spending ban.
To note, the program provides fuel vouchers worth P6,500 to over 377,000 qualified PUV drivers, who are operating jeepneys, UV express, taxis, tricycles, and others.
Under the Omnibus Election Code, the release, disbursement, or expenditures of public funds shall be prohibited 45 days before the elections.
For the May 9 polls, the ban took effect last March 25, 2022 and will be in effect until May 8, 2022.
