COA calls out Camarines Sur LGU over ‘epal’ branding

By Bobby Q. Labalan

LEGAZPI CITY --- The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged various supplies and equipment purchased by the provincial government of Camarines Sur for bearing “markings, logos and symbols associated with specific officials” of the province.

In its audit report dated May 8, 2025 but was published only this month, the COA noted that the procured items, amounting to more than P50 million, violated Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Circular No. 2010-101 and COA Circular No. 2013-004 which both prohibit the political branding.

The DILG circular issued on September 23, 2010 “banned the names or initials and/or images or pictures of government officials in billboards and signages of government programs and properties” while that of the COA states that those banned under the said DILG circular are considered as irregular expenditures.

Among those purchased were portable speakers amounting to P20.6 million where it was noted that the brand name of the equipment was missing but the label “Ka Fuerte” was instead printed on the box, speaker unit, microphones and manuals.

It was learned that the speakers were intended for distribution to barangays, schools and non-government organizations although the provincial government refused to provide the audit team with the list of intended recipients, the report stated.

The audit team noted that the speakers were high-end outdoor party speakers featuring a 10”+10” woofer, remote control, karaoke function, two wireless microphones, bluetooth connectivity and a built-in 12V/7500 mAh battery.

The COA also called out the provincial government over its procurement of basketball backboards with markings “Migzerbisyo”, “Luigi”, “Marco Gumabao” and “a logo featuring a sun and two check marks in red and blue”.

Also included in the audit observation were the “20,000 high-grade outdoor vests with 8 pocket” purchased at P599.75 per piece for a total cost of P11.995 million allegedly intended for barangay tanods though no distribution list was provided to the auditors.

Based on the report, the vests were marked “From: Gov. Luigi Villafuerte” in front and “Gov. Luigi Villafurte” at the back together with the “LV” logo on both sides.

The biggest volume both in number and amount, however, was that of the water containers with faucets wherein the provincial government purchased 75,000 pieces worth P244.95 each for a total amount of P18.4 million.

Auditors reported that the water containers were stored in several warehouses and during the inspection they chanced upon personnel of the provincial capitol attaching a logo to the containers with “Serbisyong Kafuerte” marking.

Even trash cans were not spared from the political branding as they were also included in the audit report as having been marked either “Luigi”, “Villafuerte”, “V” or “Serbisyong Kafuerte”.

The audit commission has directed the provincial government of Camarines Sur to immediately remove the political markings, to stop such practice and to explain why government-procured supplies and equipment were so labelled.