MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Loren Legarda on Monday said government projects are paid for by the people and should "never be hijacked" as billboards for political credit‑grabbing.
She lauded the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for enforcing the removal of names, images, and likenesses of public officials from government‑funded projects, programs, and properties.
The DILG memorandum directed all levels of government to strip personal branding from billboards, markers, tarpaulins, vehicles, and other properties funded by taxpayers’ money.
The senator hailed the directive as a decisive step toward restoring integrity in governance and a reminder to public servants that public office is a trust, not a platform for self‑promotion.
“Public office is a public trust. Public funds are for public service, not for personal publicity,” Legarda said in a statement.
The General Appropriations Act of 2026 prohibits public officials and politicians from influencing or participating in the distribution of government aid.
“These measures show a consistent recognition that self‑promotion undermines public trust. But without a permanent law, these safeguards remain vulnerable,” Legarda said.