The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is being urged to exempt the distribution of fertilizer and fuel subsidies to farmers from the election campaign spending ban.
Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez made the urging as he welcomed the poll body’s decision declaring that the release of financial assistance to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers is not covered by the ban. He stressed the Comelec should also spare ayuda to farmers from the prohibition.
“I believe that the fertilizer and fuel ayuda for the agriculture sector be exempted as well. Farmers are in the same situation as PUV drivers. Both sectors need the allocated funding support now,” he said.
He said he has constituents in the farming and transportation sectors of Cagayan de Oro City, whose second district he represents, and in Northern Mindanao who are awaiting the funds that the national government has already set aside for them.
He added that farmers need the money for preparing their farms before the expected onset of the rainy season next month or in June. The Department of Agriculture (DA) has stopped the distribution of funds upon orders of the Comelec.
According to DA Secretary William Dar, the order covers not only cash assistance to farmers but the procurement of farm implements and machineries as well. Dar said he has already made an appeal to the Comelec.
Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte of Camarines Sur meanwhile appealed to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to streamline its rules on the 45-day election ban on public spending.
Villafuerte made the call to enable the Comelec to expedite its action on pending requests for exemptions from this prohibition on fund releases or disbursements to “avoid or end the virtual shutdown of certain national and local government operations this campaign season.”
Villafuerte, a former governor, said Comelec could also consider speeding up its process on approving or disapproving exemptions by doing away with the holding of a mandatory hearing to tackle each individual application—and just approve the request motu proprio or on its own initiative—if and when the applicant has submitted the complete documents and the Commission has already found merit in such a plea for exemption.
