THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) approved the application of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to exempt its fuel subsidy program from the campaign spending ban in relation to the national and local elections on May 9, 2022.
During the hearing of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, Comelec Commissioner Geroge Garcia confirmed the decision of the poll body to grant the request for exemption of the DA.
According to Garcia, the decision of the Comelec did not set any limitation or restriction because they considered the program as “very important.”
The DA earlier suspended the distribution of the subsidy due to the prevailing campaign spending ban.
The fuel subsidy is allocated for farmers and fisherfolk, which were included in sectors affected by the continued increase in the prices of petroleum products.
But according to DA Secretary William Dar, the ban covers not only the financial assistance but also the procurement of agricultural equipment.