By Leilanie Adriano (PNA)
LAOAG CITY — The Ilocos Norte Sangguniang Panlalawigan has urged the two cities and 21 municipalities of the province to clear their areas of jurisdiction of “epal” signages.
“Epal” is a Filipino slang word, which refers to a person, who either inappropriately presents himself /herself in a situation or tries to grab attention or takes the credit for something he/she is not supposed to.
An anti-epal ordinance was approved in Ilocos Norte last May and is now under strict implementation in the province.
Under the ordinance, all concerned authorities are given six months to comply with it. Violators of the anti-epal ordinance will be slapped with six months to one-year imprisonment and a fine of PHP5,000.
While members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan conducted their out-of-capitol session in Bacarra town on Monday, Mayor Nicomedes dela Cruz sought clarification on the specific coverage of the ordinance.
“We are very much willing to implement the said ordinance, but I am afraid of being charged with abuse of authority once we demolished these signages,” dela Cruz said.
Provincial Board member Vicentito Lazo, the main proponent of the ordinance, explained that epal posters using government funds are very visible in public roads, bridges, schools, and welcome arcs, including government-owned vehicles.
“It’s hard to implement but if we don’t do it, who else will?” Lazo said, stressing that it is “immoral” for a person to put his or her name or photo on a project that actually used taxpayers’ money.
“If we put on cost on the various epal signages and put them all together, we can build a road out of it,” he added, expressing dismay on the continuing display of “epal” signages in the province.
