MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has granted the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) request to exempt several public transportation assistance initiatives from the spending ban linked to the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).
The exemption covers critical public welfare measures, including fuel subsidies, free rides, and related government support designed to aid passengers, drivers, and public utility vehicle (PUV) operators.
According to acting LTFRB Chairperson Atty. Greg Pua Jr., the exemption was formalized through a memorandum circular recommended by the COMELEC Legal Department and approved by COMELEC Chairman Atty. George Erwin Garcia.
“On behalf of the PUV (public utility vehicle) operators and the commuters, the LTFRB sincerely expresses its gratitude to the Comelec under Chairman Garcia for understanding the concerns we raised,” Pua said.
“This only proved the same direction that we want to pursue: to maximize all the necessary assistance to the Filipino people at a time when they needed the government the most,” he added.
The LTFRB formally filed its exemption request on September 15, immediately following the poll body’s release of guidelines regarding BSKE spending prohibitions. The petition was received by COMELEC the next day.
Pua argued in the appeal that uninterrupted program implementation is critical to sustaining accessible, affordable, safe, and reliable public transit.
He explained that the Service Contracting Program compensates operators based on validated services delivered, while the fuel subsidy scheme provides targeted financial relief against surging fuel costs. Meanwhile, the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) continues as a long-term nationwide initiative.
“Any interruption in these programs during the election period may adversely affect commuters, drivers, and public transport operators, and may disrupt the delivery of essential public transportation services,” Pua explained.
To ensure integrity, the COMELEC Law Department outlined strict conditions for the exemption, requiring that the programs must not be used to influence election outcomes, barring political candidates from direct involvement in execution, and requiring regular written reports on fund disbursements.
“The approval is a big relief for all the beneficiaries of the program especially at this time that they are really in need of government assistance. We thank the COMELEC for this,” Pua said.
“We assure the COMELEC of the LTFRB’s full compliance of the conditions set,” he added.