POLICY CLARITY: DILG-Iloilo City flags gray areas in anti-epal order

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Iloilo City office has flagged what it described as vague provisions in a newly-issued Anti-Epal memorandum from the department’s central office, saying clearer rules are needed to prevent loopholes in enforcement.

DILG Iloilo City Director Oscar Lim said he has sought clarification from the agency’s regional office on the unclear provisions before full implementation of the memorandum.

The DILG issued Memorandum Circular No. 2026-006 on Jan. 29, directing all local government units and DILG offices to remove the names, images, logos, slogans, or symbols of public officials from government-funded projects, signage, tarpaulins, and related materials.

“We’re just waiting for the actual guidance from the regional office to see how we can implement it since it seems vague based on our view,” Lim said in an interview on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

“We want the specifics,” he added.

Lim cited the prohibition on color motifs as one area that could pose implementation challenges, noting that some infrastructure projects in Iloilo City are painted in colors associated with rival political groups—red for Sulong Gugma and blue for the Uswag party.

“It should be specified because if it is vague when it reaches the filing of cases, there are so many alibis,” Lim said.

“It should be specified, spelled out, so we can implement it easily,” he added.

Lim said the city office has already raised its concerns with the regional office, which is also seeking clarification from the DILG central office.

He added that the use of taxpayer-funded projects for personal promotion by public officials has long been treated as a norm, although the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo issued a similar Anti-Epal memorandum, Memorandum Circular No. 2010-101, in September 2010.

Unlike the expanded list of prohibited items in the 2026 memorandum, Robredo’s directive primarily targeted billboards and signage for government programs, as well as official vehicles such as firetrucks and ambulances.

The 2010 memorandum required information to be limited to basic project details, including the project name, location, contractor, implementation dates, and official government seals.

“If we want a major clean-up, then we have a major one,” Lim said.

Lim said his office officially received the memorandum only on Tuesday morning, Feb. 3, and immediately disseminated copies to the city mayor and the Liga ng mga Barangays.

The memorandum states that, in recent years, concerns have been raised over the continued practice of displaying or affixing the names, images, likenesses, or other identifying marks of public officials on government-funded projects and properties.

It warned that such practices create the perception that public projects are personal initiatives of individual officials rather than institutional efforts of government, which could undermine public trust in the impartiality and professionalism of the civil service.

The circular cited provisions of the 1987 Constitution, Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and Commission on Audit rules that classify such displays as wasteful spending.

It also referenced Republic Act No. 12314, or the 2026 General Appropriations Act, which explicitly prohibits personality promotion, political signage, or branding on government aid distribution and projects, and mandates agencies to enforce compliance protocols.

Liga ng mga Barangays President Irene Ong said she supports the policy prohibiting public officials from using government-funded projects for personal promotion.

Asked about city government infrastructure projects bearing the term “Uswag,” Ong said she does not see an issue with the label itself but stressed that placing the name of any politician on public projects is not allowed.

“For projects, it should not be allowed,” Ong said.

“In the future, we will be the ones removing materials or projects that bear the mayor’s or any politician’s name,” she added.

Ong also reminded barangay officials to remove or properly dispose of project billboards, tarpaulins, streamers, or markers that carry the names of public officials.