NEWS

By Ferdinand Patinio | Philippine News Agency | December 13, 2024 6:22PM

MANILA – A total of 49 government infrastructure projects such as railways, hospitals and airports are exempted from the election ban on public works in connection with next year’s midterm polls.

In a certificate of exception signed by Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Garcia on Dec. 11 but made public on Friday, the construction of the projects will continue as they are not covered by the ban provided under the Omnibus Election Code and in relation to a resolution from the poll body.

The infrastructure projects are the University of the Philippines (UP)-Philippine General Hospital Manila (Cancer Center Project) and Diliman projects, UP-Los Baños Agro-Industrial Information Technology Parks “Agrifutura,” San Juan-Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH), Manila Central Post Office (MCPO) Project, Rizal Park Western Section Development Project, MT. Data Hotel Project, Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center, Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) Operations and Maintenance (O&M) PPP Project, and Metro Manila Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 O&M.

Also exempted are the NCR (National Capital Region) Busway Project; North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Project; Philippine Automatic Fare Collection System, Operations and Maintenance of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project; Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake Ferry Project; Rehabilitation-Expansion-Operation-Maintenance of the Iloilo International Airport; Upgrade, Expansion, Operation and Maintenance of the Kalibo International Airport Project; Baguio City Integrated Terminal Project; and Redevelopment of the Baguio City Public Market and Smart Urban Mobility Project.

The Development and Improvement of Asin Hydropower Plants Dialysis, Dialysis Center PPP Project for the Renal Center Facility of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) Hemodialysis Center, National Food Authority Hub Project, Entertainment and Events Hub Package 2 Multi-Modal Mobility Terminal, Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) Phase II, Boracay Bridge Project, Operations and Maintenance of Pampanga Dialysis Centers Project, and Pampanga Bulk Water Supply Project.

Likewise exempted are the Operation and Maintenance of Palayan CIty Hospital, Digitized Traffic System, Cavite Bus Rapid System Project, Biñan City Digitalized Traffic Enforcement, Unsolicited Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Proposal for the Long-Term Water Resource Development for Metro Manila Project, Digitalized Traffic Enforcement for Bacoor City, Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project, Bacolod Super City Project, Uswag Condominium Complex Project, and Uswag Residential Building Project.

Also covered by the exemption are the High-Capacity Bus System in Iloilo City, Establishment of Hemodialysis Centers in Iloilo Provincial and District Hospitals, San Ramon Newport Project, Redevelopment of General Santos City Public Market Project, Bislig City Bulk Water Supply, Bislig City Septage Project, National Single Window Through An Integrated Trade Facility Platform, Comprehensive Digital Housing Platform Project, and Special Products Automated Revenue Collection System (SPARCS) Project PRA Digitalization Project.

“This Certificate of Exception shall not be construed as a waiver on the part of the Comelec to prosecute for other election offenses such as Sections 104; 261 (o), (v) and (w) of the Omnibus Election Code, nor shall it exempt the certificate-recipient from complying with the provisions of the Commission on Audit in its Circular No. 2013-004,” the poll body said.

“Any alteration in this document shall invalidate this Certificate and the use of an altered document constitutes a criminal offense,” it added.

Source: Philippine News Agency