• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Bacolod City government will request the Commission on Elections to exempt several projects and programs from the public spending ban, in line with the May 12 midterm polls.
Secretary to the mayor, Atty. Marty Go, said Feb. 3 that they are now collating the list of social services and housing projects that the city wants Comelec to exempt, adding that the request deadline is set Feb. 11.
For public works, the deadline is on March 28.
Mayor Alfredo Benitez said in a press briefing Monday that they do not want vital projects and programs to be left hanging, hence the request for election spending exemption.
Under Comelec Resolution 11060, a certificate of exemption is required to implement or continue implementing activities and programs on social welfare projects and services while the spending ban is in effect from March 28 to May 11 this year.
A local government unit or national government agency is required to submit a request in order for Comelec to exempt social welfare and services projects and housing-related projects from the prohibition on the release, disbursement, or expenditure of public funds.
The city will also check if the beautification projects at the public plaza and at the Bacolod Government Center (BGC) grounds are exempted from the spending ban.
Benitez said the projects, with funding from the Department of Tourism, particularly the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), will start this month.
The city earlier asked the DOT-TIEZA for a P300 million funding to improve the facilities at the public plaza and the government center, aimed at boosting tourism.
Benitez had said the city requested P220 million for the renovation and improvement of facilities at the BGC grounds, and P80 million for the plaza beautification. | CGC
