WHAT’S IN A COLOR? DILG: LGUs must prove colors used in projects are official branding

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Local government units must formally establish and justify any colors they use as official branding to avoid violating the government’s anti-epal policy that bans personal “color motifs” on government-funded programs, projects and activities, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said.

DILG Region 6 Director Juan Jovian Ingeniero said Commission on Audit Circular 2013-004, dated Jan. 30, 2013, prohibits the use of personal “color motifs” or color schemes linked to politicians on government-funded programs, projects and activities.

He said DILG Memorandum Circular 2026-006 cites the COA circular and orders strict nationwide enforcement of the anti-epal policy.

“For the color motif, it leaves us with many interpretations. What is the stand of the LGU? Is it the color branding of the LGU? If this is a color branding, it should go through the process and have an official issue that this is our branding,” Ingeniero said in an interview Monday, Feb. 9.

He clarified that while the DILG circular does not explicitly define “color motif,” the prohibition applies when a color scheme can be clearly linked to an elected local official.

Ingeniero raised operational concerns in cases where multiple government buildings already share the same color.

“If it’s a building, we ask the Central Office, if there are 100 buildings, do we need to change all the colors? Or immediately remove it?” he said, adding that the regional office has sought guidance from the DILG central office.

Pending further instructions, he said regional and local DILG offices have been directed to monitor and inventory all LGU-owned buildings and facilities.

As an immediate measure, Ingeniero said provincial, city and municipal DILG directors have been ordered to ensure the removal of tarpaulins and other materials bearing the names, faces or slogans of elected officials from government-funded projects.

“If it bears the face, name, and tagline of the politician it should be removed. It can be in service vehicles, stationery, buildings, and others,” he said.

He said political slogans such as “Uswag” and “Sulong Gugma,” or “Gugma” in Iloilo, must also be taken down if the terms can be directly linked to specific politicians.

He said business plates issued by LGUs should display only the business number and the official local government logo.

He added that government-funded social media postings must not be used for personal promotion of politicians.

Ingeniero said violators may face complaints for breaches of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, COA Circular 2013-004, and Republic Act 12314, or the 2026 General Appropriations Act.

District rep. not covered by circular

Ingeniero said the DILG circular does not cover national lawmakers such as district representatives or members of Congress because they are beyond the agency’s direct monitoring authority.

He said district representatives are instead governed by the 2026 General Appropriations Act, particularly its anti-epal provisions in Section 19 and related sections.

He said those provisions bar politicians from influencing, participating in, or branding government aid distributions with personal signage, names or images.

He said alleged violations by lawmakers would typically be addressed through congressional scrutiny, Commission on Audit reviews or administrative probes rather than direct DILG action.

He said DILG-6 will serve as the repository of complaints, which will then be elevated to the central office to determine whether cases warrant administrative charges.

“Usually, our practice is to show cause, ask for an explanation, then follow procedural administrative remedies. If they fail to comply with the circular, there is a possibility of administrative cases being filed,” he said, adding that any citizen may file a complaint for alleged violations.

He said the regional office has already sought clarification from the central office, which is expected to issue another memorandum circular specifying deadlines for LGUs to remove personal promotions from government-funded projects.