The Commission on Elections (Comelec) allowed the implementation of the P20 per kilo rice project of the Department of Agriculture (DA) amid a poll spending ban in effect until the eve of the May 12 midterm polls.

The Comelec's law department recommended the grant of exemption to the disbursement of P5 billion funds for the P20 rice project of the DA, and was approved by Comelec chairman George Garcia.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel said the project complements '' the DA rice initiative alongside its response measures to the food security emergency."

Garcia said the DA project must be exempted since it will provide the much needed aid to the people, despite the probability of being seen as a form of vote buying.

The exemption will come with specific conditions, which will prevent it from being abused and misused.

One such condition, the Comelec said, is that all elective officials and/or candidates/aspirants cannot be present during the implementation of the project. DMS