Poll ban exemption of Nueva Ecija infra projects sought

TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is seeking the exemption of 200 infrastructure projects in Nueva Ecija from the campaign ban.

George Santos of the first engineering district of the DPWH said the projects would be constructed in the cities of Muñoz and San Jose and the towns of Aliaga, Carranglan, Cuyapo, Guimba, Licab, Llanera, Lupao, Nampicuan, Pantabangan, Quezon, Rizal, Sto. Domingo, Talavera, Talugtug and Zaragoza.  

 “We have submitted to the Comelec (Commission on Elections) the list of infrastructure projects… including the requirements,” Santos said.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, the ”construction of public works, delivery of materials... and issuance of treasury warrant or similar devices for a future undertaking chargeable against public funds are prohibited during the campaign period.”

The Comelec said continuing infrastructure projects, including private-public partnership projects, as well as those involving humanitarian missions and donations to churches, are exempted from the ban.

Santos said the construction of the P40-million, Nueva Ecija portion of the Guimba-Pura Road was exempted from the ban.