Comelec clears 91 Cebu City projects amid election ban

Local

EVEN with the election season in full swing, several infrastructure projects in Cebu City will push through after securing the green light from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia announced on Monday, April 28, that the Comelec has granted an exemption for 91 infrastructure projects in the city, allowing these to continue despite the election spending ban.

The exemption, which the city applied for in November last year, covers a wide range of infrastructure projects, including the construction of evacuation centers, bridges, drainage systems, school buildings, water systems, slope protection works, and the rehabilitation of multi-purpose facilities across various barangays in Cebu City.

Among the approved projects are the rehabilitation of the Cebu City Sports Center, the construction of new school buildings at Ermita Elementary School and Mabolo Elementary School, the concreting of roads in Barangays Pasil, San Nicolas Proper, and Lahug, the development of drainage systems in Barangays Inayawan and Tejero, and the establishment of evacuation centers in Barangays Busay and Bonbon.

The construction of slope protection structures in landslide-prone areas such as Barangays Kalunasan and Sapangdaku was also included in the approved list.

Under the Omnibus Election Code and in accordance to a Comelec resolution, the release, disbursement, or expenditure of public funds for public works is generally prohibited during election periods to prevent their use for political gain.

However, certain projects that are deemed urgent, ongoing, or essential may be exempted if approved by the Commission.

In a copy of the Certificate of Exception provided to reporters, Comelec clarified that while the projects are granted exemptions, the city government must still comply with all auditing and procurement regulations, including those set by the Commission on Audit.

The exemption does not absolve officials from liability if election offenses, such as misuse of funds or vote-buying, are subsequently found.

Garcia emphasized that the projects were primarily aimed at addressing basic community needs and improving public safety and infrastructure resilience, especially ahead of the rainy season.

He also assured that the city government will strictly adhere to procurement laws and election-related rules despite the granted exceptions.

The approved projects represent 91 out of the 172 initiatives originally requested for exemption.

Election-related prohibitions on public works officially took effect in March, as part of the rules governing the 2025 National and Local Elections, as well as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections.(TGP)