THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is green-lighting the implementation of the P20 per kilo rice project of the Department of Agriculture (DA) amid the poll spending ban currently in effect until the eve of the May 12 midterm polls.
In its Memorandum No. 25-07984, the Comelec-Law Department recommended the grant of exemption to the disbursement of P5 billion funds for the P20 Rice Project of the DA, and was subsequently approved by Comelec Chairman George Garcia.
"In view of the foregoing, the Law Department recommends the approval of the request for exemption of Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., Secretary, DA," said the Comelec Law Department.
"The recommendation of the Law Department is hereby approved," said Garcia.
In its request for exemption, Laurel said there is a need for the funding to ensure the implementation of the project.
"(This is) to complement the DA rice initiative alongside its response measures to the food security emergency," said the DA.
In an interview, Garcia on Friday explained that the DA project needed to be exempted since it will provide much-needed aid to the people, despite the probability of it being seen as a form of vote buying.
"If that (vote buying) would be the argument, it would mean that all forms of social services will be forms of vote buying. We believe this is a way to help the people," said Garcia.
What is important, the poll chief said, is that the exemption will come with specific conditions, which will prevent it from being abused and misused.
"It cannot be unli or without any conditions and limitations because that would be tantamount to vote buying or even abuse of state resources," said Garcia.
One such condition, the Comelec said, is that all elective officials and/or candidates/aspirants cannot be present during the implementation of the project.
"It shall not, in any manner, influence the conduct of the 12 May 2025 National and Local Elections," said the Comelec.
Garcia added that local government units (LGUs) that will avail of the project must seek a separate exemption from the commission.
"The LGUs that will avail of the project must apply their own exemption from the Comelec. The grant of exemption to the DA doesn't mean that LGUs are automatically exempted," Garcia said.
He said this is because the budget that the LGUs will use to sell the P20 per kilo of rice is different from the DA.
"The rice won't be purchased at P20 from DA. It is P33. Therefore, there will be a subsidy of P13 from the LGU... We want to know where will the LGU source the funds for that," Garcia said.
He said they also require the project to be conducted in public places since public funds are being utilized.
Garcia said members of the media, civil society groups, or other interest groups must be given unrestricted access during such activities in the spirit of transparency. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)