LGUs need Comelec exemption to distribute cheap rice during election ban

Metro Manila, Philippines - Local government units have to secure an exemption from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to distribute free rice or sell cheaper rice during the 45-day disbursement ban, the poll body’s chief said Tuesday, March 11.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia said the Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority will not be needing an exemption amid efforts to sell cheaper options of the commodity.

The DA declared a food security emergency to allow the NFA to release rice buffer stocks to interested LGUs at P33 per kilogram.

But Garcia clarified LGUs must get Comelec exemption if local officials and candidates themselves intend to distribute libreng bigas or sell at a lower price stocks coming from the DA and NFA within 45 days before the May 12 elections. Such a scenario could fall into social services, he said.

During the 45-day period, which also coincides with the local campaign period, the “release, disbursement or expenditure of public funds” is prohibited.

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“Otherwise, pwede po makasuhan ‘yung mismong official ng LGU o kung kumakandidato pwede silang ma-disqualify,” the Comelec chairperson said.

[Translation: Otherwise, the LGU official can be slapped with a complaint, or the local candidate can be disqualified.]

In granting the exemption, Garcia said LGUs must submit information on the funding for social services, the beneficiaries, and the guidelines for choosing the beneficiaries, among others.

“‘Yon po ‘yong kinoconsider lalo na kung ang titingnan ang mismong kasaysayan ng LGU sa pamimigay ng mga social services sa panahon ng kampanyahan,” he added.

[Translation: Those are considerations, especially if we are looking at the history of the LGU in distributing social services during local campaigning.]

The local campaign period will start on March 28.