Comelec exempts DOLE programs from Eleksyon 2025 spending ban

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has granted the request of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to exempt some of its programs from the spending ban for the May 2025 polls. 

In a resolution released Monday, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia approved the recommendation of the poll body's law department on the request of DOLE to exempt the following programs from Sections 261 (v) (2) of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC):

• Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) — P828,940,000
• Government lnternship Program (GIP) — P807,716,000
• JobStart Philippines Program (JSP) — P155,270,000
• Adjustment Measures Program (AMP) — P218,722,000
• Workers Organization Development Program (WODP) — P35,874,000
• DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Program (DILEEP) — P2,242,967
• Financial Assistance Program to Distressed Migratory Sugarcane Workers (MSWs) — P1,960,000
• Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP) — P85,262,000
• EnTSUPERneur Program — P100,000,000

Under Comelec's Resolution No. 11060, 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 28 to May 11, 2025.

Earlier, the poll body exempted 48 infrastructure projects from the spending ban ahead of the 2025 midterm elections. —AOL, GMA Integrated News