Officials barred from printing names on public infrastructures

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The days of naming public work projects are over.

The city council on Monday approved on final reading an ordinance prohibiting public and private persons from affixing their names, initials, images or pictures on any public structure and property, equipment, vehicle and program or project of the city government.

Authored by Vice Mayor Daniel Farinas and Councilor Fred Bagbagen, the measure dubbed “The No-Naming and No-Signage of Public Works and Property Ordinance,” “makes it unlawful for politicians, public officials or private individuals to affix their names by way of inscription, painting, engraving, sculpting or superimposing one’s name, symbol, sign, using paint, metal or plastic craft, wood or cement structure, including but not limited to all projects funded by public funds such as buildings, roads, bridges, overpasses, gymnasium, classrooms, waiting shed, terminals and markets.”

The prohibition will also cover public equipment, vehicles, movable properties such as construction equipment, trucks, ambulances, police cars, buses, office equipment, hospital equipment communication equipment, sacks of goods for distribution and the like.

The authors said it is misleading and unethical for government officials and politicians to affix their names on these government projects which are supported by public funds and not by these officials’ personal money.

Violators face penalties of fines ranging from P3,000 to P5,000 and 30-day imprisonment.

The ordinance was based on a similar memorandum circular issued by the Dept. of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“In keeping with the (DILG directive), it is therefore necessary to pass stringent obligatory measure to strictly implement and enforce the very purpose of the directive to deter and penalize violators and would-be violators and other similar minds and no one should go scot-free,” the measure notes. – Aileen P. Refuerzo