Criminalize epal works

BY DAVID CASUCO Oscar F. Picazo, one of the brightest minds the University of Santo Tomas ever produced, defines “epal” as follows: Epal– n., an interloper, credit-grabber, and kibitzer; usually a national or local politician who employs the large-format tarpaulin to tell people s/he was responsible for having constructed or repaired public infrastructure; publicly congratulates graduates like s/he was the parent; takes every opportunity (Christmas, fiesta, his own birthday) to give uncalled for greetings to people and to himself/herself; and employs any imaginable public-promotion trick just so s/he can be visible and have good name-recall among clueless voters come election time. (A word play on ‘mapapel,’ which literally means expanding one’s role in the written script.) Synonym of ‘kapalmuks’. Amplifying the Pinoy urban dictionary definition, an “epal” delights in putting big billboards along the highways and byways, trumpeting that such and such infrastructure project belongs to him, and that all the glory, honor, and power must be accorded to him and him alone; and not even the Almighty can question his absolute self-entitlement. In some cases, even fire trucks, police cars, and ambulances bear the names and photos of these politicos. Here in California we see signs like, “Your tax money at work. Sorry for the inconvenience.” An American politician will never dare to claim credit for any ongoing government project. If s/he does that people would think s/he is out of her/his mind. I was in the Philippinesa few months ago, and in my travels to airports and roadways, I have seen a lot of these oversized tarps and billboards that boldly and shamelessly give credits to elected officials for ongoing government infra projects. For me, and I am sure for self-respecting returning balikbayans and OFWs these “epal signs” appear as ultimate insults to us knowing that the money used in refurbishing that airport or construction of that flyover come from the dollar remittances of hardworking Filipinos abroad and the taxes of those at home; and not from some thieving and lying vultures (read: elected officials). Equally appalling is the reality that most of the construction companies that won the public biddings in government projects stuffed in millions of grease money into the pockets of the politicians to secure the jobs. Ouch! But that is another story. This ugly practice by incumbent politicians of claiming government projects as their own had been going on for decades, and yet Filipinos have done nothing to stop it. One of the results of the dysfunctional patronage politics, this practice is a convenient tool by politicians to galvanize their clout on the voters, most of them unsuspecting and unenlightened citizens. The same initiative, I was told, had been introduced at one time or another in Congress before, and each time it failed to prosper for lack of support from the lawmakers. Apathy repeatedly killed it before it could take off. Right now the question is: Are we heading for yet another déjà vu with Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago pushing her Anti-Epal Bill in the Senate? Launched last month, Santiago's Senate Bill 1967 prohibits public officials from putting their names and pictures on signage for public works projects. Violators will get jail term of six months to one year. Said Santiagoon the bill’s explanatory note: “It is a prevalent practice among public officers, whether elected or appointed, to append their names on public works projects which were either funded or facilitated through their offices. .. This is unnecessary and highly unethical.” Initially, Sen. Santiago’s bill met some resistance from the “epals” themselves. Can you imagine these people who get paid with people tax money, sitting in Congress and refusing to recognize a very, positive initiative? It is very pathetic that most of our elected officials are devoid of any moral moorings. How can one not support a noble objective? Can they not, for once, give good statecraft a chance? I am confident Sen. Santiago won’t give up easily on her Anti-Epal bill. She is not the person who easily backtracks on a good fight, especially when she knows she is right and the people are going to benefit it. Let us rally behind Sen. Santiago on this particular measure. This is one effort that the media must lend all-out support, if only because this is a proposed legislation that is definitely a step in the right