MIRIAM REFILES ANTI-SIGNAGE BILL

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago praised President Benigno Aquino III for his policy of keeping his name from being appended to government-funded projects.

"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 office. This is unnecessary and highly unethical," she said.

Santiago, the consistent top performer in the Senate, also said that she is pushing for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1967, or the "Anti-Signage of Public Works Bill", in support for the president's policy.

The bill was originally refiled in 2004 during the Thirteenth Congress, and again in 2007 during the Fourteenth. It was referred to the Senate committees on public works and civil service.

Santiago's bill penalizes both the act of affixing names or images of any public official to a signage announcing a proposed or on-going public works project, and of installing such a signage.

"This practice by public officials fosters and promotes a culture of political patronage and corruption, and diminishes the concept of continuity in good governance in the mind of the public. We need to curb this unethical practice," the senator said.

S.B. No 1967 also directs the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Metro Manila Development Authority to remove all existing signages of public works projects bearing the name or image of public officers.

Violators of the proposed law will be imprisoned for six months to one year, and will be perpetually disqualified from public office.