Bacolod City – A week before the start of the election period for the synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on August 28, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson distributed P21.6 million worth of projects to barangay captains of 109 villages in Negros Occidental.
Each barangay was given P200,000, with the funds sourced from the Office of the Governor.
Lacson said that barangay captains were a given free hand to choose the projects they will fund in their respective barangays.
A similar amount was also distributed by Lacson in previous months to other barangays in Negros Occidental, which was used in the establishment of solar streetlights, among others.
The filing of certificate of candidacy for candidates in the synchronized elections is slated to start August 28 until September 2, based on the issued guidelines of the Commission on Elections.
The Comelec has updated its guidelines on social welfare projects and public works ban, in relation with the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on October 30.
The guidelines cover the prohibition on the release, disbursement, or expenditure of public funds for social welfare projects, construction of public works, and delivery of materials for public works in relation to the BSKE, pursuant to Resolution No. 10944 as follows:
For social welfare projects of national, regional, provincial, and local government units (LGUs) and those of government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs) and their subsidiaries, the period of prohibition is from 15 September 2023 to 30 October 2023, except for Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), the distribution of which is prohibited from 20 to 30 October 2023.
For social welfare projects that will be implemented by the barangay, the period of prohibition is from 20 to 30 October 2023.
Comelec said that exempted from the prohibition of AICS distribution are those which are normally given to qualified individuals such as, but not limited to, basic needs in the form of food, transportation, medical, educational, burial, and other similar assistance.
Likewise expressly exempted from these prohibitions without the need for prior authority from the commission are the release and expenditure of public funds for relief or other goods to be distributed to the affected individuals and/or families in cases of calamities or disasters. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)
