President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the expedited release of guidelines to scrub government-funded projects of political branding, Malacañang said Tuesday.
The move aims to enforce “anti-epal” provisions integrated into the 2026 General Appropriations Act, which prohibit officials from using public works or social services for self-promotion.
Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the president wants to ensure that financial aid and infrastructure reach beneficiaries without the influence of political patronage.
“The President wants this issue resolved,” Castro said during a press briefing. “If department heads see that it can be done faster, we want to see those guidelines implemented as soon as possible.”
Meantime, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla clarified that under the new campaign, public officials are forbidden from placing their names, photos, or logos on any government projects.
Signage must be limited to essential data, including the project title, contract dates, the contractor, and the source of funding.
Remulla warned that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will pursue administrative sanctions against violators.
“Suspension is already a grave punishment,” Remulla said. “If a local chief executive shows a recidivist attitude, we can refer the matter to the Ombudsman for administrative and criminal cases.”
The DILG chief encouraged the public to report violations via social media, noting that the agency is also upgrading the “Isumbong Mo sa Pangulo” website to streamline complaints.
Remulla cited that while the current campaign was born out of 15 years of public frustration, the lack of a codified law remains a challenge.
He called on Congress to pass legislation that would officially criminalize “epal” practices and provide harsher penalties beyond administrative suspension.