Comelec exempts P20 rice project from poll spending ban

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) exempted the P20 per kilo Rice Project of the Department of Agriculture (DA) from the 45-day election spending ban ahead of the May 12 polls.

Comelec Memorandum No. 25-07984 granted the request of the DA to exclude their P5-billion funding for the sale of P20 per kilo of rice from the spending ban for the May polls, exempting it from Section 261 (v) (1) of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC). 

“The issuance of a certificate of exemption shall not preclude the Comelec from investigating and prosecuting any violation of Section 261 (o) of the OEC,” the memorandum reads. 

Poll chief George Erwin Garcia said the Comelec included additional guidelines for the exclusion, including the securing by local government units (LGUs) of separate certificates of exemption if they resell rice products at a lower price. 

“Yung mismong LGU na maga-avail ng P20 na presyo per kilo ng bigas, sila dapat ay maga-apply ng exemption sa Comelec. Hindi porke nabigyan namin ng exemption ang DA, NFA, automatically exempted ang LGU,” he said. 

(LGUs that will sell the subsidized rice products should secure an exemption.)

Other directives include that the distribution and sale of subsidized rice be conducted in public places, and that media, civil society and interest groups be allowed unrestricted access in the venue of the implementation.

To recall, the Comelec previously exempted the programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) from the spending ban including the controversial Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program. It likewise exempted infrastructure projects beginning December 2024.

Section 261 (v) (1) of the OEC prohibits any public official or employee including barangay officials and those of government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries, who, during forty-five days before a regular election and thirty days before a special election, releases, disburses or expends any public funds for public works except for the maintenance of existing and/or completed public works project; work undertaken by contract through public bidding; payment for the usual cost of preparation; and emergency work. 

Under Comelec 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.—LDF, GMA Integrated News

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