A congressman from the Bicol region on Tuesday appealed to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to exempt the emergency financial assistance programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development from the poll ban on public spending.
“The times are extraordinary, and we cannot afford a slowdown in emergency and crisis aid, particularly the assistance for individuals in crisis situations of the DSWD. We also cannot afford delays in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps and other social amelioration programs,” Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said.
“Otherwise, we will definitely see a slowdown in recovery. We’ve had enough slowdowns this year,” he said.
Salceda added that “frontloading economic recovery programs is crucial.”
Comelec Resolution No. 10747 includes the DSWD in its public spending ban from March to May 2022.
However, the resolution added that it may exempt “such other expenses as the Commission may authorize after due notice and hearing.”
Salceda wrote to DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista to petition Comelec to exempt all DSWD aid transactions from the prohibition.
Salceda also assured Bautista that he will support the petition as co-chairman of the House Economic Stimulus and Recovery Cluster.
“These are extraordinary times, as Comelec itself would acknowledge. I am optimistic that our honorable commissioners will see the wisdom in exempting DSWD assistance.”
“They could even include safeguards against electioneering if they deem it proper. But aid should face no delay, especially in these difficult times. Crisis situations do not take an election holiday,” Salceda said.