No Comelec ruling on sale of gov’t rice

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to decide if it will grant the request of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to exempt the sale of rice stocks from the National Food Authority (NFA) to local governments from the election spending ban.

In a memorandum released on Sunday, the Comelec law department said that while the NFA’s selling of rice to local governments is allowed, it said that the purchase of the local governments and its eventual distribution to its constituents from March 28 (the start of the campaign period for local candidates) to May 11 (the eve of election day) are covered by the prohibition.

READ: DA cuts MSRP of imported rice

The law department also told the DA that the NFA and the local governments that no exemption may be given by the Comelec to any request covering the issuance, use, or availment of “treasury warrants or any device undertaking future delivery of money or goods using public funds” during the period.

Under the Omnibus Election Code as implemented under Comelec Resolution No. 11060 for the 2025 midterm elections, public officials and employees are prohibited to release, disburse or expend any public funds for social services and housing-related projects 45 days before the election day—or from March 28 to May 11—unless exempted by the Comelec.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. last month requested the Comelec for the exemption amid his declaration of a food security emergency for rice.