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'Anti-epal' provision in 2021 national budget gets adopted

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/life/01/05/20210105-20130130_mmda_epal-mp.jpg"/><figcaption>Members of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) conduct a clean-up drive along Roosevelt Cor. San Francisco Del Monte Avenue in Quezon City. <em>Manny Palmero/ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Public officials may find it harder now to claim credit after a provision prohibiting attachment of their names, pictures, logos, signatures or other kinds of appearance on projects funded by the 2021 national budget, was officially adopted.</p><p>Under the &quot;anti-epal&quot; provision which was adopted as General Provision No. 82 of the newly-signed 2021 budget, elected or appointed officials are barred from doing so on programs, activities, or other kinds projects funded by the General Appropriations Act (GAA).</p><p>Epal is a Filipino slang for people who inappropriately present themselves in a situation or an event. </p><p>&quot;Taxpayers, not politicians, fund the projects and programs. Their names or photos have no place there,&quot; said Sen. Grace Poe, author of the provision.</p><p>&quot;Public officials, whether elected or appointed, should not make it appear that their constituents owe them gratitude for the projects,&quot; she added.</p><p>Many public officials in the Philippines have been criticized for their appearances, in whatever form, on tax-funded projects.</p><p>Poe said labeling projects with their names paves the way for these officials to prematurely campaign for upcoming elections.</p><p>&quot;Nakapaskil ang pangalan at litrato ng ibang politiko sa mga ambulansya, waiting shed, ultimo sa basurahan,&quot; she said.</p><p>(The names and images of other images are plastered on ambulances, waiting sheds, and even on trash cans.)</p><p>&quot;Sa paggamit ng 2021 budget, bawal ang politikong epal. Tandaan natin, hindi natin pera ito, pera ito ng ating mga kababayan.&quot;</p><p>(In using the 2021 budget, inappropriate appearances of politicians are prohibited. We have to remember, this is not our money, but our citizens&#x27;.)</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OCzSsB7dn6Y?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>MANILA - Public officials may find it harder now to claim credit after a provision prohibiting attachment of their names, pictures, logos, signatures or other kinds of appearance on projects funded by the 2021 national budget, was officially adopted.</p>

MANILA - Public officials may find it harder now to claim credit after a provision prohibiting attachment of their names, pictures, logos, signatures or other kinds of appearance on projects funded by the 2021 national budget, was officially adopted.