The Negros Occidental provincial government can pay its legal obligations to its contractors and suppliers for projects despite the current election period ban.
Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria gave the assurance, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Wednesday, September 20.
Diaz said he asked Ananoria for his opinion because the Provincial Treasurer’s Office has been
worried about paying contractors and suppliers for contracts already perfected, because of the election ban.
Ananoria said COMELEC Resolution 10944 states that payments can be made if the projects, programs, activities (PPAs) sought to be implemented during the prohibited period from October 20 to 29 were established before that period and duly reported to the Commission on Audit.
In no instance shall the implementation of PPAs be used as an opportunity by any candidate, his or her spouse, family member within the second civil degree of affinity or consanguinity to further their candidacy through their personal appearance in such events, the posting, exhibition or distribution of any form of election propaganda, or any material containing their names, logos, initials, mottos, slogans, images, and other forms of representation attributable to them, he said.
Support for or endorsement of candidates shall not be made as a condition for the entitlement of the benefits from the PPAs, Ananoria said.
Candidates, their spouses, and members of their family within the second civil degree of affinity or consanguinity are strictly prohibited from participating, directly or indirectly, in the distribution of cash, goods or merchandise for scholarships, assistance for burial, healthcare, calamity and other similar programs, he added.*