REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT oe EDSA Cor. Mapagmahal st., Diliman Quezon City a LEGAL SERVICE = LOGO) NOV 08 90); DILG Legal Opinion No. 71s. 2011 REGIONAL DIRECTOR ANANIAS M. VILLACORTA, CESO IV DILG-Region VII Sudion, Lahug Cebu City Dear RD Villacorta: This has reference to your Memorandum dated 28 October 2011 requesting guidance and/or clarification on the application and coverage of DILG MC No. 2010-101, entitled: “Banning Names or Initials And/Or Images or Pictures of Government Officials in Billboards and Signages of Government Programs, Projects and Properties.” Per your Memorandum and ifs attachments, Congressman Pablo John Garcia, 3 District, Province of Cebu, put up tarpaulins/billboards announcing his Free Medical Assistance Program in Barangays Tajao and Poblacion, Municipality of Pinamungajan, Province of Cebu. Some of these tarpaulins/billboards were ordered to be removed by Mayor Geraldine Yapha, Municipality of Pinamungajan, citing DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2010-101. Hence, the letter of Congressman Garcia to Mayor Yapha stating that billboards and signages of members of Congress are not covered by DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2010-101. It may be recalled that DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2010-101 stemmed from the President's directive during the 4" Cabinet Meeting held on 05 August 2010 fo all members of the Cabinet and other government insirumentalities to refrain from associating the President's personality and identity in their programs and projects. the aforesaid directive of the President, as reinforced by the Department in DILG MC No. 2010-101, seeks to prevent government officials from falsely giving an inflated sense of accomplishment to the detriment of their constituents who are the ones actually paying for such programs or projects through their tax payment. Let it be noted that in the subject Department issuance, all local chiet executives were "xxx directed fo revisit all government projects and properties and to ensure that this policy is strictly observed.” Hence, we are of the view that local chief executives, like Mayor Geraldine Yapha, are directed to implement DiLG MC No. 2010-101 by adopting means they deem appropriate under the circumstances, subject to pertinent laws, rules and regulations We hope that the foregoing sufficiently addresses your concem. Very truly yours, spn is/17