Pinaalalahanan ni House Appropriations Committee Chair Elizaldy Co ang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan na sumunod sa itinakdang spending ban ng COMELEC kaugnay sa Barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.
Simula ngayong Setyembre 15 ay ipagbabawal na ang paglalabas at paggamit ng public funds para sa social services at development program dahil sa nalalapit na halalan.
Magkagayunman, may ilang programa na exempted gaya ng rice retailer subsidy at fuel subsidy.
“As Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, I gently remind all government agencies to comply with the spending ban that comes with the coming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, let me warn officials that cash and non-cash aid distributions during the spending ban period constitute an election offense and will be punishable by imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more than six (6) years, among other penalties provided for by law like disqualification to hold public office and deprivation of the right of suffrage.” paalala ni Co.
Sinabi naman ng Ako Bicol party-list solon na hindi dapat gawing palusot ang spending ban para hindi magamit ang pondong inilaan sa mga ahensya ngayong taon.
Aniya sa pagsisimula pa lang ng 2023 ang nagpaalala na ang Kongreso para matiyak na magamit na ang budget bago pa abutan ng spending ban.
“Budgets carried over from last year because of continuing authorization must be spent this year, or the unspent funds shall be returned to the National Treasury. Unspent budgets in large amounts ranging from hundreds of millions to billions of pesos will catch the attention of us in Congress because those amounts represent projects and programs that should have improved the lives of targeted beneficiaries.” dagdag ni Co. | ulat ni Kathleen Jean Forbes
