Geline Salac

Comelec bans politicos in distribution of aid during election ban

Article (news)

Willard Cheng

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17363109178721736310915638.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div>The Comelec has exempted the distribution of 4Ps, AKAP, and AICS among other social welfare programs during the election ban but laid out the condition that no candidate or politician be present during the distribution.Comelec chairman George Garcia laid out the condition as the Comelec law department recommended the approval of the request for exemption submitted by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian for 28 DSWD projects during the election ban.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/5/-insulated-from-politicking-dswd-outlines-guardrails-for-akap-implementation-1222">&#x27;Insulated from politicking&#x27;: DSWD outlines guardrails for AKAP implementation</a></div>Comelec Resolution 11060 prohibits the release, disbursement or expenditure of public funds for social services from March 28 to May 11, or 45 days before the elections.On AICS, the Comelec reiterated that there should be no distribution of the said fund from May 2 to 12, “except those which are normally given to qualified individuals such as, but not limited to basic needs in the form of food, transportation, medical, educational, burial, and other similar assistance.”<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/01/03/24/dswd-resumes-issuance-of-guarantee-letters-temporarily-halts-cash-aid">DSWD resumes issuance of guarantee letters, temporarily suspends outright cash aid</a></div>“No candidates/politicians during the distribution of ayuda in whatever nature/form,” Garcia wrote alongside the recommendation of the Comelec law department. Garcia also said that the Comelec should be furnished with the guidelines “as committed by the DSWD in public pronouncements” and that there should be “faithful adherence” of the guidelines.The DSWD should also submit a periodic written report of the disbursements made.The Comelec also said that the issuance of a certificate of exemption “shall not prevent the conduct if preliminary investigation in cases where the prohibited acts” as described in the Omnibus Election Code occur.The request for exemption of the DSWD covers the following projects with their amount of disbursement:1.     Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), P38.4 billion2.     Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), P511 million3.     Services for Residential and Center-based Clients, P33.4 million4.     Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), P96.9 million5.     Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, P401.6 million6.     Implementation of RA No. 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016, P15.175 million7.     Protective Services for Individuals &amp; Families in Especially Difficult Circumstances –COMBASED, P29.4 million8.     Protective Services for Individuals &amp; Families in Especially Difficult Circumstances- PROPER, P2.089 million9.     Services for Displaced Persons (Deportees), P4.002 million10.  Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons, P628,20011.  Assistance for Persons with Disability &amp; Senior Citizens, P380,58012.  National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction, P1,513,436.5113.  KALAHI-CIDSS-KKB, P257.79 million14.  Philippines Multi-sectoral Nutrition Project, P44.35 million15.  Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrisyon (BangUn), P123.26 million16.  PAMANA- Peace and Development, P47.298 million17.  PAMANA- DSWD/ LGU Led Livelihood, P534.289 million18.  Pag-Abot Program, P500.37 million19.  Philippine FOOD STAMP Program/ Walang Gutom Program (WGP), P7.254 billion20.  Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), P882.974 million21.  KALAHI CIDSS-National Community-Driven Development Program- Additional Financing (NCDDP-AF), P564,633.3622.  Beneficiary FIRST Project (BFIRST), P238.7 million23.  TRUST RECEIPT, P395.65 million24.  TARA BASA! TUTORING PROGRAM, P1.081 billion25.  Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP)- National Program Management Office, P4.645 million26.  Social Technology Development and Enhancement, P32.5 million27.  Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), P7.585 billion28.  Financial Assistance that are routinary and normally given by the Department to qualified individuals (May 2-12, 2025), P3.075 billion

The Comelec has exempted the distribution of 4Ps, AKAP, and AICS among other social welfare programs during the election ban but laid out the condition that no candidate or politician be present during the distribution.

The Comelec has exempted the distribution of 4Ps, AKAP, and AICS among other social welfare programs during the election ban but laid out the condition that no candidate or politician be present during the distribution.