BACOLOD City – The provincial government of Negros Occidental has requested the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to exempt from the upcoming election spending ban the release of financial assistance to hog raisers.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the financial assistance will be released to raisers affected by hog mortalities due to hog cholera and African Swine Fever (ASF) after cleansing the list of qualified beneficiaries.
The list is at the accounting office.
The provincial government has allocated P10 million for the initial cash assistance.
Diaz also affirmed that hog deaths in the province continue to drop, with the Provincial Incident Management Team recording consecutive zero daily mortality.
The Comelec recently updated its guidelines on social welfare projects and public works ban in relation to the Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
The guidelines cover the prohibition on the release, disbursement, or expenditure of public funds for social welfare projects, construction of public works, and delivery of materials for public works in relation to the BSKE, pursuant to Resolution No. 10944 as follows:
* for social welfare projects of national, regional, provincial, and LGUs and those of government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs) and their subsidiaries, the period of prohibition is from Sept. 15, 2023 to Oct. 30, 2023, except for Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), the distribution of which is prohibited from Oct. 20 to 30, 2023; and
* for social welfare projects that will be implemented by the barangay, the period of prohibition is from Oct. 20 to 30, 2023.
However, Comelec said exempted from the prohibition of AICS distribution are those which are normally given to qualified individuals such as, but not limited to, basic needs in the form of food, transportation, medical, educational, burial, and other similar assistance.
Likewise expressly exempted from these prohibitions without the need for prior authority from the commission are the release and expenditure of public funds for relief or other goods to be distributed to the affected individuals and/or families in cases of calamities or disasters.
Spending ban requests for exemption and exception for projects, activities, and programs pertaining to social welfare and services must be submitted to the Law Department via email, personal submission, or courier no later than Sept. 1, 2023. (Watchmen Daily Journal/with a report from Manila Bulletin)/PN
