EDITORIAL - Curbing epalLawmakers and implementing executive agencies maintain that credit-grabbing or epal elective officials will not be given any role in the distribution of state-funded aid – whether in person or through the display of self-promoting materials at the distribution venues. The public is even being urged to take photos of epal moments and report such cases. A broad information campaign is needed about these avenues for reporting epal cases. In the past years, images of the epals appearing in person or on billboards and streamers posted at aid distribution sites have filled multimedia platforms. Apart from providing easily accessible mechanisms for reporting epal moments, authorities must ensure that the reports are promptly acted upon and sanctions imposed.
