Comelec bares decisions on some requests for spending ban exemption

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday bared its decision on some petitions of local and national government offices to be exempted from the election-related public spending ban.

In a press conference, Commissioner George Garcia said the Comelec en banc some petitions were granted, some were denied, while some were "partially granted."

Denied

• Province of Nueva Ecija
• Province of Bohol
• Province of Cebu

Granted

• Office of the Vice President
• Province of Davao de Oro
• Department of Social Welfare and Development
• Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity

Partially granted

• Province of Surigao del Norte
• Province of Palawan
• Santa Rosa City
• Province of Capiz
• Tagum City
• Quezon City
• Koronadal City

Garcia said partially granted means the concerned petition included some projects that have no budget particulars, which he said the poll body does not allow.

“The Comelec en banc deemed it necessary not to grant this kind of projects,” he said.

On the grant for Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, Garcia said since its beneficiaries are local government units, beneficiary LGUs will have to file separate petitions.

Garcia said more petitions have yet to be discussed by the Comelec.

Under Comelec's Resolution No. 10747, a certificate of exemption is needed to implement activities and programs on social welfare projects and services while the public spending ban is in effect from March 25 to May 8, 2022. —KBK, GMA News