Comelec Chairman George Garcia presides over the Raffle of Party-List Groups and Organizations or Coalitions' Order in the Official Ballot for the 2025 National and Local Elections  held at the Chairman's Hall, Palacio del Gobernador, Intramuros, Manila  on October 18, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday said they would adhere to the law amid calls to postpone infrastructure, public works, and social projects ahead of the May 2025 elections, with critics saying these might be politicized. 

"Ang nakalagay sa batas natin, mayroong ban sa public works. Mayroong ban sa social services. Ang batas natin na hindi nagpapahintulot sa public works at social services ay 1985 na batas. Hangga't hindi nagbabago yan, yan ang ipapatupad ng Commission on Elections," said Comelec Chairman George Garcia. 

"Baka kasi pag nag-grant kami ng exemptions, kami ang sisihin ng sambayanan o ibang grupo. Sana maintindihan ng lahat na mahirap ipatigil ang public works," Garcia told the press in a briefing. 

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Garcia said they will allow projects that are already underway but will stop those that seemed to be created just for politicking. 

"Ang mahirap na proyekto ay ang naisip lang ng politiko dahil siya ay tumatakbo. Ang tagal mo nang nandyan tapos palibhasa mangangampanya, tsaka maiisip na 'ipagawa ko kaya ang kalsada na ito' ay hindi kami papayag," he said. 

Moreover, Comelec will not hinder the delivery of critical social services to the poor such as financial aid and scholarships, said Garcia. 

"Hindi natin yan pipigilan basta't magiging maliwanag ang hihingin sa amin na pahintulot o exemption – paano ito isasagawa, sino ang benepisyaryo, magkano ang gagamitin at dapat hindi present ang pulitiko sa distributio," he said. 

The election period starts on Jan. 12.