ILOILO City – A total of 49 government infrastructure projects such as railways, hospitals and airports are exempted from the election ban on public works in connection with next year’s midterm polls.
Of these 49 projects, nine are from Western Visayas. These are the following:
* Rehabilitation-Expansion-Operation-Maintenance of the Iloilo International Airport
* Upgrade, Expansion, Operation and Maintenance of the Kalibo International Airport Project
* Boracay Bridge Project
* Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project
* Bacolod Super City Project
* Uswag Condominium Complex Project
* Uswag Residential Building Project
* High-Capacity Bus System in Iloilo City
* Establishment of Hemodialysis Centers in Iloilo Provincial and District Hospitals
In a certificate of exception signed by Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Garcia on Dec. 11, the construction of these projects will continue as they are not covered by the ban provided under the Omnibus Election Code and in relation to a resolution from the poll body.
“This Certificate of Exception shall not be construed as a waiver on the part of the Comelec to prosecute for other election offenses such as Sections 104; 261 (o), (v) and (w) of the Omnibus Election Code, nor shall it exempt the certificate-recipient from complying with the provisions of the Commission on Audit in its Circular No. 2013-004,” the poll body said.
“Any alteration in this document shall invalidate this Certificate and the use of an altered document constitutes a criminal offense,” it added.
The following are briefs about the nine exempted projects:
* The Rehabilitation-Expansion-Operation-Maintenance (REOM) project for Iloilo International Airport aims to enhance its facilities to accommodate increasing passenger traffic and improve overall service quality. The project includes expanding the passenger terminal building, constructing an adjacent apron, renovating existing structures, installing necessary equipment, and managing operations and maintenance throughout the concession period.
* The Kalibo International Airport is undergoing a significant upgrade and expansion aimed at enhancing its facilities and services. The project involves the operation and maintenance of the existing airport infrastructure, along with substantial upgrades, including system improvements and the construction of a new terminal building.
* The Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project (NBWSP) is an initiative by the provincial government of Negros Occidental to address the increasing water demand in the province. The project involves the development of a bulk water supply system with a minimum capacity of 34.5 million liters per day (MLD), sourced from the Imbang River and/or Malogo River. It aims to provide treated bulk water to six water service providers: the cities of Silay, Talisay, Victorias, Bacolod, and the municipalities of Manapla and E.B. Magalona.
* The Bacolod Super City Project, this ambitious initiative led by Mayor Alfredo Benitez aims to transform Bacolod City into a “super city” characterized by comfortable living, ample employment opportunities, and vibrant public spaces. This vision encompasses various pillars, including effective governance, economic diversification, environmental sustainability, social development, and the creation of smart, green urban centers.
* The Uswag Condominium Complex Project and the Uswag Residential Building Project are housing initiatives in Iloilo City aimed at providing affordable housing solutions for informal settler families (ISFs) and low-income city government employees.
* Iloilo City is actively pursuing the development of a High-Capacity Bus (HCB) System to enhance its public transportation infrastructure. The project involves the financing, development, operation, and maintenance of an HCB system across three corridors, utilizing electric-powered buses. This system aims to provide an integrated solution supported by technology for operations monitoring, vehicle performance management, scheduling, and customer information services.
* The “Establishment of Hemodialysis Centers in Iloilo Provincial and District Hospitals” project is a public-private partnership (PPP) initiative aimed at enhancing access to life-saving hemodialysis services across Iloilo province. The project involves collaboration between the Provincial Government of Iloilo and Panay Medical Ventures, Inc. (PMVI), a subsidiary of Ayala Healthcare Holdings./PN
