Palace ban on politicians' names and images on billboards stays

A Palace spokesman said the directive banning public officials from placing their names or photos on billboards of government infrastructure projects stays even though Arroyo allies have opposed it. At a press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning (PCDSP) head Ricky Carandang said the orders of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) still stand. "The departments are perfectly within their authority to issue those memos. The congressmen can question that, they can differ with that, they can debate it in Congress but until it's been proven otherwise I think the departments have the authority to do that," said Carandang. President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III told earlier government agencies not to use his name for government projects or programs. This prompted the DPWH to issue Department Order 37 directing its regional, district engineering and project management offices to follow the revised "Standard Project Billboard format." The acceptable billboard format no longer allows the names or images of personalities, including the President, to appear in project billboards. The DILG also said it will not allow billboards of government projects to carry the names or images of politicians. Arroyo allies While the executive branch's moves were welcomed by the general public, some lawmakers allied with former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is now congresswoman of Pampanga's second district, opposed it. At a press briefing on Monday, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said congressmen should let their constituents know about the projects they initiated even though it is funded by the government. Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros Magsaysay also said billboards help the public identify the projects initiated by their congressmen using their pork barrel. Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco said they can tell their constituents, through billboards, that they have kept the promises they made during the elections. Carandang, however, said the president is firm in his directive because he does not want government officials to take credit for government projects. "I think the message of the president here is very clear: this is not the money of this administration; this is not the money of the members of Congress; this is the money of the taxpayers," said the Palace official. "Right now the order will stand," he said. –VVP, GMANews.TV