By Olive Pallasigue
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 in line with the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
Based on Comelec Memorandum No. 23-05732, exempted from the ban are the Special Program for Employment of Students, Government Internship Program, Jobstart Philippines Program, and Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program.
DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the lift is necessary for the continuity of these programs’ operations and noted that there is “utmost urgency to disburse public funds” to target beneficiaries.
The DOLE said there are also control measures in place to comply with the established guidelines during program implementation and to prevent partisan political activity engagement.
The Comelec also laid out conditions on the hiring of workers and the release of public funds to display trust in maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
Based on Section 261 (G, V) of the Omnibus Election Code, promotion and increase of salaries are prohibited within 45 days before the election, as well as the release, disbursement or expenditure of public funds except for some projects that include maintenance and emergency works.
Laguesma sought for the exemption through a letter on August 30. The BSKE is set in Oct. 30. –ag