Anti-epal Act

Senate Office of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 26 FEB -4 P5:41 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE Senate Bill No. 1750 Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT PROHIBITING POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND THE DISPLAY OF THE NAME, IMAGE, OR LIKENESS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS ON GOVERNMENT PROJECTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Under Sections 19 and 20 of the General Provisions of Republic Act No. 12314 also known as the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), political involvement in the distribution of cash and other forms of financial assistance, as well as the display and/or affixture of the name, image, or likeness of public officials on government projects, are already prohibited. This bill institutionalizes these prohibitions to ensure consistent and permanent application beyond a single budget cycle. This measure seeks to promote fairness, transparency, and non- partisanship in the delivery of government financial assistance and the implementation of government-funded projects. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. ERWIN T. TULFO

Senate Office of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 26 FEB -4 P5:41 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE Senate Bill No. 1750 Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT PROHIBITING POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND THE DISPLAY OF THE NAME, IMAGE, OR LIKENESS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS ON GOVERNMENT PROJECTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Anti-

2 Epal Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to

promote transparency, prevent misuse of public resources for partisan or personal advantage, and protect the integrity of public service.

SEC. 3. Prohibition on Political Involvement in the Distribution

of Cash and Other Forms of Financial Assistance. - All cash assistance and other forms of government financial aid shall be distributed exclusively by authorized government officers and/or personnel or duly accredited partners. No public official holding an elective position, electoral candidate, politician, political party, or any of their representatives, except for officials having direct administrative and executive authority

1 over the implementing agency, shall influence, be present in, participate in, or take part in the actual distribution of any cash assistance or other forms of financial aid under government financial 4 aid programs. No political signage, branding, paraphernalia, or partisan activity 7 shall be displayed or conducted within the distribution area.

SEC. 4. Prohibition on the Display and/or Affixture of the Name,

10 Image, and Likeness of Public Officials on Government Projects. - The 11 display and/or affixture of the name, photograph, image, motto, logo, initials, or any symbol or graphic representation associated with any public official, whether elected or appointed, on signboards, markers, billboards, or similar materials for all government-funded programs, activities, and projects shall be prohibited.

SEC. 5. Authorized Identifiers. - Only factual, non-promotional,

and purely authorized identifiers shall be permitted, including, but not limited to, official agency seals or emblems, project identifiers, contract or agency reference numbers, plaques or markers required by law or contract recognizing donors or historical contributors, and other identifications required by law: Provided, That such identifiers shall not include the name, photograph, image, motto, logo, initials, slogan, or any symbol or graphic representation associated with any active elected public official, nor shall they attribute credit to any public official.

SEC. 6. Penalties. -

(a) Any public official or employee who violates Section 3 or

Section 4 of this Act shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of six (6)

months and one (1) day to six (6) years, and/or a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) to Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00), or both at the discretion of the court. (b) If the offender is an elective public official or electoral candidate, the penalty shall include perpetual disqualification from

1 holding public office, in addition to the penalties provided in the preceding paragraph. (c) If the offender is a party list, its responsible officers shall be 5 held liable.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60)

8 days from the effectivity of this Act, all concerned government agencies responsible for the distribution of cash assistance and other forms of government financial aid shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - Should any provision or part of

this Act be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions and parts hereof, insofar as they are separable from the invalid ones, shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders,

proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,