DILG starts removing officials' names from govt vehicles

In line with President Aquino's policy against having officials' names plastered on government projects, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has started removing names and images of officials from new government-acquired police cars and fire trucks. But Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo admitted the implementation of a new department order he issued Wednesday may be limited. "Pinagbawal na yan. May department order umpisa kahapon. Ibig sabihin ang police car, fire truck, police station, wala nang maglalagay ng pangalan, di lang ni Pangulong Noynoy kundi kaming nasa kawani niya sa DILG," he said in an interview on dzXL radio Thursday. (I issued a department order Wednesday that officials' names and images will not be allowed on government projects and vehicles under our jurisdiction. This means police cars, fire trucks and police stations will not bear the names of national or local officials, not only of President Aquino but also of those under the DILG.) The DILG supervises local government units, as well as the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. Robredo said he expects local government units to comply with the order as soon as they receive a copy of it. "We already started implementing it. For example, we have removed the names of officials from new fire trucks bought by the government," he said. Signage and pictures of officials give the impression they donated for the projects that are actually funded by taxpayers' money. Enforcement limit According to Robredo, the implementation of the new policy will be very limited as it does not cover other national government agencies like the Public Works department. Congress must pass a law barring names and images of government officials on government-funded projects. He also admitted the DILG has no power to stop local officials, who "donated" items such as patrol cars using their own money, from putting their names on the vehicles or projects. "If they used private funds to acquire the donated items, they have the right to put their names. Our order only covers items acquired with government money," he said. On the other hand, Robredo admitted violators may get "light" punishment as the DILG can only file administrative charges against them for "insubordination." "Administrative muna dahil wala pang batas. May utos pag di mo sinunod may administrative penalty for insubordination (We can only file administrative cases against violators, for insubordination)," he said. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV