The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced last week that a total of 49 government infrastructure projects, including railways, hospitals, and airports, have been exempted from the public works ban during next year’s midterm election period.
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia signed the certificate of exception on Dec. 11, which was made public on Friday.
According to the Comelec, these projects are not subject to the election ban under the Omnibus Election Code and a related resolution issued by the poll body.
Among the exempted projects are the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital Cancer Center Project, UP-Diliman projects, UP-Los Baños Agrifutura IT Parks, the San Juan 4PH housing project, the Manila Central Post Office redevelopment, the Rizal Park Western Section Development Project, the Metro Manila Subway Operations and Maintenance Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Project, and the MRT Line 3 O&M.
Other major projects include the North-South Commuter Railway O&M PPP, the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit O&M, the Iloilo International Airport rehabilitation and expansion, the Kalibo International Airport upgrade, the Baguio City Integrated Terminal Project, and the Baguio City Public Market redevelopment and Smart Urban Mobility Project.
Health-related projects such as the Baguio General Hospital Renal Center, Cagayan Valley Medical Center Hemodialysis Center, and Pampanga Dialysis Centers are also exempted. Additional infrastructure initiatives include the Central Luzon Link Expressway Phase II, Boracay Bridge Project, Pampanga Bulk Water Supply Project, Bacolod Super City Project, and Iloilo City’s High-Capacity Bus System.
Digital and modernization projects like the National Single Window Integrated Trade Facility Platform, Bacoor and Biñan City Traffic Enforcement Systems, and the Comprehensive Digital Housing Platform were also granted exemptions.
Other exempted projects include bulk water supply systems in Negros Occidental and Bislig City, as well as the redevelopment of public markets in General Santos City and Bislig City.
The Comelec emphasized that the certificate of exception does not exempt project proponents from compliance with other election laws, including provisions on election offenses under the Omnibus Election Code, nor does it override regulations set by the Commission on Audit.
“Any alteration in this document shall invalidate this certificate, and the use of an altered document constitutes a criminal offense,” the Comelec warned.