Padrino System
DILG
– The Department of Interior and Local Government called on the public to report ‘epal’ politicians in cash aid distribution sites.
Last January 5, after the country operated on a reenacted budget in the first few days of the year, President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr. signed the 2026 national budget amounting to P6.79 trillion
. The ceremonial signing was held at the Malacañang Palace.
After signing the 2026 national budget,
Padrino System
— government officials are no longer allowed to distribute cash aid and other forms of assistance. He also ordered that the assistance of the government should reach the right beneficiaries.
Recently, the Department of Interior and Local Government spoke on the ‘anti-epal rules’. Based on a report on PhilStar, DILG Sec. Jonvic Remulla called on the public to report the politicians who don’t abide by the ‘anti-epal rules’.
According to the DILG Chief, participation of the Filipino people in enforcing the rules that prohibit the politicians to distribute cash aid and other forms of assistance is crucial. He called on the public to take photos of politicians who disobey the rules.
Remulla said.
Furthermore, based on the report, DILG Sec. Jonvic Remulla said the anti-epal campaign depends on the people. According to him, the Filipinos should report those who are violating the rules so the authorities can act on it.
“The anti-epal campaign does not depend on us, but on the people. They have to report so we can act on it,”
the DILG Chief said.
Based on the
report
, aside from not being allowed to be in the cash aid and other forms of assistance’s distribution sites, politicians are also not allowed to put their names, initials, mottos, images, color motifs, or any symbol associated with them on billboards, signboards, and other signages of government projects, properties, and programs.
“We can file administrative cases against them. If the local chief executive’s attitude is recidivist, we can refer it to the ombudsman for administrative and criminal cases
,” the DILG Secretary added.
Previously, the Department of Social Welfare and Development or
DSWD claimed that they will stop releasing cash aid if politicians will “gatecrash” the distribution sites