THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Bohol thru its provincial director Johnjoan Mende emphasized that there\u2019s no anti-epal law yet as it issued a policy against it (credit-grabbing for personal promotion).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the anti-epal is being provided in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2026, Mende told Capitol Reports, a weekly press conference sponsored by the Provincial Information and Media Office (PiMO).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The DILG Memorandum Circular 2026-06, outlines a framework for the Anti-Epal Policy as it aims to ensure integrity, professionalism, and political neutrality in the implementation of government programs, projects, and activities. It strictly prohibits the use of government resources, events, and materials for personal promotion, self-crediting, or political branding by public officials and employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnder the policy, the use of names, images, slogans, or any form of publicity that gives undue credit to individuals\u2014rather than to the government institution\u2014is disallowed. This prohibition applies to official communications, barangay certificates, tarpaulins, signages, relief goods packaging, and program materials. Color schemes associated with political parties or identifiable with specific individuals may also be flagged as partisan \u201calibis.\u201d Instead, local government units are strongly encouraged to use official government seals and standardized branding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mende said that a \u201ccake\u201d for a senior citizen\u2019s birthday, for instance, where there\u2019s a name of an official\/politician in it is a clear violation as an example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mende clarified that under the GAA 2026, section 20 spells out that the prohibition (in anti-epal policy) is applicable only on nationally-funded projects and programs. Section 19 of GAA 2026 prohibits any elected or appointed officials to be present in the distribution of government sponsored assistance, such as Assistance to Individual in Crisis Situation (AICS) or TUPAD and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said that DILG circular on said policy is applicable for the locally-funded projects and programs. This in consonance with the Commission On Audit Circular No. 2013-004 of the same tenor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When asked what are the sanctions if violations are found, Mende said that there are mechanisms that the public may approach or report, such as the Ombudsman and the court. He added that the public are urged to help monitor and to report the violations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Provincial head of the province\u2019s General Services Office Engr. Eustaquio Caliao said that as a \u201cslogan\u201d, like \u201cKadiwa sa Pangulo,\u201d or \u201cAbante,\u201d or \u201cKumbati\u201d is still being discussed and could they be considered as violations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said that the provincial government has already started removing those names printed in Capitol\u2019s service vehicles, adding that they\u2019re given 60 days to implement this effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another contentious issue is that the \u201cacronyms\u201d that obviously spells out the officials name and those political party or party-list\u2019s name printed on government projects could be considered as violations of the ani-epal policy. (Ric Obedencio)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Bohol thru its provincial director Johnjoan Mende emphasized that there\u2019s no anti-epal law yet as it issued a policy against it (credit-grabbing for personal promotion). But the anti-epal is being provided in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2026, Mende told Capitol<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8450,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-top-stories",""],"yoast_head":"\n