Last week, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged the people to file “epal” complaints against local and barangay officials who use government-funded projects for their own good.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla advised the public to step forward with their complaints against the “epal” local leaders before the proper forum as prescribed by Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991, instituting the protocol in filing complaints for all local government officials, including barangay leaders.
Complaints may also be filed with the Office of the Ombudsman, which has disciplinary authority over all elective and appointive officials of the government and its subdivisions, instrumentalities, and agencies, which includes all barangays.
Sec. Remulla stressed that the call is consistent with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call to ban political involvement in government projects and with anti-epal guidelines that are already in effect and must be strictly followed.
Under the guidelines of the Commission on Audit (COA), public notices should only contain the project title, start date, contractor, and target completion date, among others.
The DILG, through Memorandum Circular 2010-101, likewise bans the inclusion of names, initials, images, or pictures of government officials on billboards and signages of government programs, projects, and properties.
The circular was issued on Sept. 23, 2010 by then Sec. Jesse M. Robredo, who pointed out that “the practice of putting up billboards or signages bearing the names, initials and images on government programs and projects has been noticeably abused and misused by some public officials for their personal interests and has taken the credit away from the taxpayers who are the ones paying for such programs or projects through their tax payment.”
It directed that information on government projects should be limited to the name of the project and location, contractor, the date when it started and the project’s completion date.
It also provided that government projects or properties such as buildings or waiting sheds must only contain the official seal or name of the local government unit, with vehicles to bear not only the name and seal but the markings “FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY.”
Section 20 of Republic Act No. 12314, or the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), prohibits the display or affixing of the name, picture, image, motto, logo, color motif, initials, or any other symbol or graphic representation associated with any public official—whether elected or appointed—on signboards for all government programs, properties, and projects.
In the capital town of Virac as well as in the rest of the island, taxpayers still see evidence of the credit-grabbing done by past politicians: a former congressman’s initials looming large as part of a motto, a former vice governor’s initials enlarged on a waiting shed’s name, and a former congressman claiming credit for a bridge in signs painted on a wall.
It must be stressed that Sec. 20 of RA 12314 expands on the coverage of DILG Memorandum Circular 2010-101, as it now includes the motto, color motif, initials or any other symbol or graphic representation.
By this standard, it may be inferred that the governor’s favorite campaign colors as well as his motto “Padagos na Patanos” are covered by the prohibition on “epal” inclusions in the signages for government projects.
The same would be true for the tarpaulin signs posted along projects funded by the Virac municipal government that bear the words “PROYEKTO NIN GOBYERNO BAKO NIN POLITIKO” associated with the incumbent chief executive.
Any such signs with “epal” evidence should now be removed and replaced with the correct information lest a taxpayer or, worse, political opponent send the damning photograph to concerned authorities.