The Negros Occidental provincial government may not be able to distribute P94.6 million from the National Housing Authority for typhoon “Odette” victims and implement several other national government funded projects when the campaign period for local candidates officially starts on Friday, March 25, provincial administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Monday, March 21.
The campaign period of candidates for House of Representatives seats, and provincial, city, and municipal posts will last until May 7.
Negros Occidental Acting Provincial Elections Supervisor Roberto Salazar held a dialog with provincial government department, division and office heads at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City on Monday to answer their queries on the local campaign period prohibitions.
Salazar informed them that the disbursement of funds for public works, social services and housing projects is banned during the campaign period, Diaz said.
This will affect the disbursement of the P94.6 million NHA fund unless they get an exemption from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), he said.
The Department of Labor and Employment and Department of Social Welfare and Development should also assist the local government unit in requesting the Comelec for exemptions of their projects, he added.
Comelec rules state that during the local campaign period the appointment or hiring of new employees, creation or filling up of new positions, promotion or giving of salary increases, remuneration or privilege will be banned.
Also prohibited will be the construction of public works, delivery of materials for public works and issuance of treasury warrant or similar devices for a future undertaking chargeable against public funds, and the release, disbursement or expenditures of public funds.
Campaigning on April 14 (Maundy Thursday) and April 15 (Good Friday) is also banned.
Salazar said government employees cannot campaign for candidates.
They can post who their preferences are on their Facebook pages but they cannot campaign for them, he added.
Those who commit election offenses could face one to six years imprisonment, which cannot be pardoned by the president without concurrence of the Comelec, he said.*