Negros oriental: Government projects and equipment that were privately funded or donated are also covered by the government's anti-'epal' drive, a Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) official in Negros Oriental said.

According to Philippines News Agency, DILG - Negros Oriental Director Farah Gentuya stated that this is the stance of DILG - Negros Island Region (NIR), in accordance with DILG Memorandum Circular 2026-006, issued on January 29. This circular prohibits incumbent government officials from placing their names, faces, logos, or initials on government-funded projects and equipment from the provincial to the barangay levels.

Gentuya explained that if a project is privately funded but donated to the government, it is considered government property. Therefore, the identities and images of donors or local officials on project posters, billboards, and similar materials should be removed.

Initial monitoring by DILG - Negros Oriental indicated that local government units (LGUs) have been making efforts to comply with the DILG memorandum circular. They were given a two-month period to align with the memorandum's stipulations.

Despite these efforts, DILG - Negros Oriental continues to receive reports and complaints of non-compliance, which are being addressed and reported to higher authorities. Joshua Quijote, a paralegal officer with DILG - Negros Oriental, mentioned that lists of alleged violators of the department circular have been submitted to determine which LGUs or politicians will receive a show-cause order for the violation.

The bases for the DILG circular include the 1987 Constitution, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, Commission on Audit rules that classify personalized displays as unnecessary expenses, and the 2026 General Appropriations Act, which explicitly prohibits attaching officials' names and images to government-funded projects.

Source: Philippine News Agency