TARLAKENYO (February 2, 2026) — In a major push against a long-standing and widely criticized practice, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has launched a strict nationwide crackdown on so-called “epal” politicians.
The move targets the common sight of public officials plastering their names, faces, and logos on projects funded by taxpayer money.
The DILG has issued a powerful directive, Memorandum Circular No. 2026-006, which leaves no room for doubt. It firmly bans the display of any public official’s name, photograph, logo, initials, personal color motif, or slogan on all government-funded projects.
This means no more politician’s face smiling from a new barangay hall signboard, no more names proudly engraved on a public waiting shed.
Calling the practice a clear misuse of public trust, the DILG stated bluntly, “Government programs are not personal billboards.”
The agency emphasized that these projects are paid for by the people and should symbolize genuine public service, not serve as a tool for political credit-grabbing and self-promotion.
The order demands immediate action. All existing tarpaulins, markers, and signages that violate the rule must be taken down at once.
Heads of local government units, from provincial governors down to barangay captains, are now held directly accountable for ensuring complete and prompt compliance in their jurisdictions.
The DILG is also empowering citizens, encouraging them to report any violations they witness.
This strengthened “Anti-Epal” policy reinforces the constitutional principle that public office is a public trust. It aligns with the President’s call to keep government work free from political personality branding.
For many Filipinos, this crackdown is a welcome move against a “bulok” or rotten system, where politicians act like generous donors for projects that are actually built using the people’s own taxes. It sends a clear message: public service should be about the people’s benefit, not the politician’s publicity.
