Chan vows compliance to DILG’s anti-epal policy

CEBU, Philippines — Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Cindi King-Chan has assured full and strict compliance with the government’s Anti-Epal Policy, which prohibits the use of public funds for the personal promotion of public officials.

The assurance came following the issuance of Memorandum Circular No. 2026-006 by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), directing all local government units to remove names, images, slogans, and other identifying marks of public officials from government-funded projects, properties, and official documents.

In an interview, King-Chan said the city government immediately acted on the directive, ordering the removal of tarpaulins and billboards bearing officials’ photos and taglines.

“If you notice, napailisan na gyud ang atong mga billboards ug tarpaulins nga wala na gyud ang among mga names and pictures,” the mayor said, noting that the city complied as soon as the DILG reiterated the policy earlier this month.

She added that Lapu-Lapu City was among the first local governments to publicly advocate compliance when the issue resurfaced.

“We were one of the firsts to advocate on that when it became an issue,” King-Chan said.

Similar commitments were earlier expressed by other Cebu leaders, including Pamela Baricuatro, Nestor Archival, and Thadeo Jovito Ouano, who also pledged adherence to the Anti-Epal policy.

In October last year, a tarpaulin announcing the construction of a missile storage facility in Lapu-Lapu City circulated on social media. The tarpaulin featured photos of King-Chan, her husband Junard “Ahong” Chan, Vice Mayor Celedonio Sitoy, and members of the City Council.

King-Chan earlier clarified that the tarpaulin was intended to inform the public and promote transparency in government projects.

Following the Anti-Epal directive, the mayor stressed that the city has since aligned all project signages and informational materials with the policy, ensuring that no names, images, or other identifying marks of public officials appear on government-funded displays.

Under Memorandum Circular No. 2026-006, all provincial, city, municipal, and barangay officials, including DILG central, regional, and field offices, are required to ensure that no public official’s name, photo, logo, initials, color motif, slogan, or identifying symbol appears on government-funded projects, programs, activities, and properties.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla emphasized that government projects are funded by taxpayers and should not be used for personal or political promotion.

“Government programs are not personal billboards,” the DILG said, reiterating that public funds are meant for public service, not political credit-grabbing.

The circular is anchored on the 1987 Constitution’s principle that public office is a public trust; Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees; Commission on Audit rules classifying personalized displays as unnecessary expenses; and provisions of the 2026 General Appropriations Act prohibiting the attachment of officials’ names and images to publicly funded projects.

The DILG has directed the immediate removal or correction of non-compliant materials nationwide, warning that heads of offices will be held accountable for full and prompt compliance. It also echoed the call of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for citizens to report violations of the Anti-Epal policy. – Kristin de Dios/FPL