ANTI EPAL BILL

Sarmiento, however, does not agree that candidates should campaign early, since .premature campaigning would benefit only the resource-rich candidates.“Campaigning should be regulated because [early campaigning] favors those who have resources at the expense of the poor but qualified candidates,” Sarmiento said.To regulate the “unnecessary media exposure” of well-off candidates, the commissioner recommended Senator Miriam Santiago’s “anti-epal bill,” which when passed would penalize public officials for posting photos of themselves on their projects or on tarpaulins.Senate Bill No. 1967 seeks to penalize the act of affixing the name or image of any public official to a signage announcing a proposed or ongoing public works project.The bill also directs the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Metro Manila Development Authority to remove all existing signages of public works projects bearing the name or image of public officers.“Makakatulong ang anti-epal bill para maregulate natin ang unnecessary media exposure [ng mga kandidato],” Sarmiento said.He added that the bill would level the playing field for both the poor and the resource-rich candidates.The PCSO is moving to support the President’s efforts. Its latest directive on ambulances is a reiteration of the President’s admonition since the start of his administration for politicians to stop putting their names and images on public property, including relief goods. A bill filed by Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago to ban the practice, dubbed “anti-epal” – the Pinoy slang for such politicians – is moving sluggishly through the legislative mill. Old habits are truly hard to break in this country, especially with elections approaching.

The Comelec will just have to devise ways of discouraging premature campaigning. The PCSO, for example, now requires local government units that receive its ambulances to issue a written commitment not to use the vehicles for political purposes.

Disgusted citizens have launched an anti-epal movement on Facebook, but so far, the epal politicians seem unmoved. Brillantes admitted that the Comelec could not compel politicians to show delicadeza. There oughta be a law, but in the absence of one, Brillantes advised the public to remember the names and faces of the epal and forget them on election day 2013. It’s a good advice to take.
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