Clarification on fund releases during election ban.

Here's a clarification from the DBM's Legal and Legislative Service (LLS) on fund releases for the duration of the election ban.

As a general rule, releases, disbursement or expenditures of public funds for public works, social works and housing-related projects are prohibited beginning March 30, 2007 until May 14, 2007, except when these are specifically exempted by the COMELEC.

For the DBM in particular, the COMELEC has imposed on injunction per its Resolution No. 7785, enjoining the former not to release nor authorize the release of any appropriation that may directly or indirectly be used in violation of the prohibitions contained in the Omnibus Election Code. An exception to this is when the SARO or NCA is issued for generic purposes like the IRA or congressional allocations in which the DBM has no way of determining if the activities to be carried out by the agency or LGU fall under any of the prohibitions.

On matters of procurement, the GPPB has issued Resolution No. 01-2007 prescribing the guidelines on the procurement activities that can be carried out during the election ban. Details of this guidelines can be viewed here.