THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has exempted 12 projects of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) from the ban on the release of public funds ahead of the May 12 midterm polls.
Covered by the exemption based on Comelec Memorandum No. 25-01080 are the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Services for Residential and Center-based Clients, Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, Protective Services for Individuals and Families in Especially Difficult Circumstances Proper, and Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons.
Also granted exemptions are Assistance to Persons with Disability and Senior Citizens, LAWA and BINHI Project (Local Adaptation to Water Access-Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished), KALAHI-CIDSS-KKB for Community Driven and Development (CDD) projects and Cash for Work (CFW) programs, Philippines Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP), and Liwanag at Tubig Assistance Welfare (LITAW).
“The Law Department recommends the approval of the request for exemption of Secretary Rex T. Gatchalian, DSWD,” said Comelec law department Director Sittie Tawagon.
The Memorandum was approved by Comelec chairman George Garcia on late Monday, March 17.
The poll body reminded the DSWD that the projects must not, in any manner, influence the conduct of the forthcoming polls as it banned the presence of elective officials and candidates during the distribution of the financial assistance.
The Comelec also urged the DSWD to invite city or municipal election officers to witness the distribution activities to ensure their compliance to the guidelines.
It likewise required the DSWD to submit a periodic written report of the disbursements made in relation to the exempted projects to the concerned Office of the Regional Election Director.
Under the Omnibus Election Code, it is prohibited to release and spend public funds within 45 days before an electoral exercise.
For the May 12 polls, the election spending ban shall run from March 28 to May 11, 2025.
