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[av_heading heading=’ P1M fine, jail term for ‘epal’ officials sought ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – Will a hefty fine and a possible prison term deter “epal” politicians?
A Senate bill prohibits public officials from placing their name or image on any signage for government projects.
Fines of up to P1 million and one-year imprisonment shall be slapped against violators. On second offense, offenders shall be made ineligible to run for public office, stated Senate Bill No. 1535, or the proposed “Anti-Epal Law.”
Epal is a colloquial term referring to credit-grabbers and attention-seekers.
“This unethical practice has led the people to believe that the projects named before incumbent government officials are indeed sponsored by them, thus, tolerating said officials to prematurely campaign for re-election and cultivate a culture of patronage,” said author Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao.
Government projects are funded by taxpayers’ money, the senator stressed.
The bill bans naming or identifying government projects after or with any government official, but allows crediting the agency, department or local government for the maintenance, rehabilitation and construction of public works, and affixing their name or official logo to the signage.
“Over the years, elected or appointed public officials have been either appending their names on signage of public works projects and various activities, or label such projects after their names,” Pacquiao said.
“Although these government projects are facilitated by their office, the fact remains that these are funded by the tax levied from Filipino people,” the boxing star-turned-politician said.
Pacquiao said the bill aims to “uphold honesty, integrity and transparency to foster good governance in public service.”/PN
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