Comelec exempts 48 projects from election ban

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has exempted 48 infrastructure projects of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center from the ban on public works during next year’s election period.

Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia told reporters via Viber on Friday that the certificate of exception to the PPP Center was issued Dec. 11.

The PPC Center, an attached agency of the National Economic Development Authority, is mandated to facilitate the implementation of the country’s PPP programs and projects.

Among the PPP projects exempted were the construction of the Philippine General Hospital Cancer Center, rehabilitation of the Manila Central Post Office, Metro Rail Transit 3 operation and maintenance, the Edsa Busway Project, Metro Manila Subway Project, North-South Commuter Railway PPP, Cebu Bus Rapid Transit, Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake ferry, Boracay Bridge, the National Single Window integrated facilitation program, and the expansion, upgrading and operations of the Iloilo and Kalibo airports.

The exemption was necessary because the Omnibus Election Code (Batas Pambansa Bilang 881) bans the release, disbursement or expenditure and the construction and delivery of materials for public works starting March 28, 2025, or 45 days before Election Day.

Exempted from the prohibition are PPP and build-operate-transfer (BOT) projects.

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However, agency heads must submit to the commission, among other requirements, a certified list of the PPP and BOT public works projects sought to be exempted, particularly those that will start before March 28, and those undertaken by contract through public bidding held, or by negotiated contract awarded before March 28.

The Comelec’s Political Finance and Affairs Department receives requests for exception, evaluates and makes recommendations on compliant submissions to the Comelec chair for his approval.