‘ANTI-EPAL’: Proposed ordinance bans Iloilo City officials’ names, faces in LGU-funded events

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

A proposed ordinance in the Iloilo City Council aims to ban the use of local officials’ names and images in city-funded events to give such activities “more essence and value.”

The measure, filed by Councilor Rudolph Jeffrey Ganzon, would create guidelines for naming events organized by the Iloilo City government.

During the council’s session on Thursday, Nov. 6, Ganzon cited recent social media backlash, saying the removal of officials’ names would help avoid public scrutiny that he believes affects the morale of such events.

“The substance of an event and a sport is dissipated when it is being played upon on social media,” Ganzon said.

“We hear people criticizing—some are good, some are not. It has been felt by this representation, ever since, that we put our heart and soul where it should be when we sponsor and organize events,” he added.

“It’s not easy to organize events. Their expertise, their preparation, and even their target sectors are losing essence because we are being forestalled by critics who would be playing our minds,” he said.

Speaking to the media after the session, Ganzon clarified that the ordinance would apply not only to elected officials but also to appointed and regular government workers.

“We want to have many festivities in the city, and we don’t want to destroy the celebration of these events,” he said.

“Dinagyang Festival has such a big name, so we are not just targeting the politicians, but also all local government officials, not just the elected ones.”

However, Ganzon said the rule would not apply to personally funded and organized initiatives that do not use public funds.

“For one, I would tag [fellow Councilor Alan Zaldivar], who has a program in the barangays,” he said.

“I also have my sports programs. I don’t use government funds, and I get support from my sponsors. Our offices’ initiatives are different. What we are just looking at are the city’s events where there are more faces.”

Ganzon said he hopes the ordinance will be passed by the end of November, noting that other pieces of local legislation also need attention.

Councilor Jose Maria Dela Llana, who supports the proposal, said he would like the measure expanded to cover even activities funded with personal money, noting the public role of officials.

“My plan, and I plan to talk to Councilor Ganzon on this, [is] let us work together to go beyond sporting events,” Dela Llana told reporters.

“For example, during every storm, we would give out relief goods, and there would be faces of politicians. I think it’s time to pass an anti-epal bill, so that it would be no more.”

“If that’s your personal money, that would be okay,” he added.

“But even if it was your own money, if you’re a government official, that doesn’t look good. That’s a bit epal. I don’t feel good about that.”

The proposed ordinance follows Executive Order No. 114, series of 2025, issued by Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu on Oct. 24.

The order directed that city-funded sports events should refrain from using the mayor’s name, while privately organized events must secure clearance from the mayor’s office.

The order came after Rudiver Jungco Sr., executive assistant for youth and sports, posted a lineup of Dinagyang Festival sporting events on Facebook in late October.

The post, which has since been deleted, showed that 14 out of 22 events carried the mayor’s name, sparking backlash from Ilonggo netizens.

Jungco defended the naming on Oct. 22, telling Bombo Radyo it was based on requests from private organizers and followed practices of previous city mayors.