The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Thursday, April 28 that it has granted a petition for exemption for the programs and projects of four more government institutions.

During a press conference, Commissioner George Erwin Garcia disclosed that the poll body granted the petition for exemption of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) on some of its programs and projects.
"We granted the petition of the DA on the different programs and projects, more specifically the fuel discount of farmers and fisherfolks program," he said.
"Likewise the petition for exemption of the PhilRice and finally, among other things, we also granted the petition of Pagcor on several programs and projects," he added.
Meanwhile, Garcia said that the en banc granted the petition for exemption of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), stating that all the projects of DOLE are "really necessary".
Under Comelec Resolution No. 10747 promulgated on Dec. 16, 2021, effective March 25, until May 8, 2022, no public official or employee, including officials, and those of government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries, shall release, disburse or expend any public funds.