In a previous post, I talked about the anti-political dynasty provision of the Constitution and the pending bills for an enabling law. Yes, ten years later, our good lawmakers have yet to enact the law. Maybe those who chose to sit the current situation out may want to make this their advocacy – it may appeal to their “change in our own little way” philosophy.

Anyway, I would like to propose an anti-political narcissism law. Have you been to Caloocan? If you are going to Caloocan via EDSA, descending from the Cloverleaf bridge, you will see a large tarpaulin covering the pedestrian overpass. On the tarpaulin you will see the mayor’s mug shot and several texts. Further along EDSA approaching the Bonifacio monument, the entire pedestrian overpass near Manila Central University is covered by a tarpaulin, carrying words of congratulations to the son’s mayor, who won as national president of the barangay league. On the sidewalks, new lamp posts were installed, topped by the mayor’s pirated smiley.

And that’s just along EDSA. Along Biglang Awa Street (which terminates to EDSA), you can see several streamers of congratulations also. Near our house, the sidewalk has those smileys. On some waiting sheds, you can see tarpaulins carrying – what else? – the mayor’s face.

Go to the city/municipal hall, and you would see the pictures of the president, governor, and mayor in every offices. Imagine, if there are 100 offices in a city hall, that would amount to 300 8R pictures! And look at the goverment cars and ambulances. They carry the names of the incumbent, as if the funds for their acquisition came from the incumbent’s wallet. And don’t forget those billboards saying “Proyekto ni Mayor Kapalmuks” or “Project of Congressman Makapal.” And the canvass tents carrying the politician’s name. And coffee mugs (I am not kidding – I saw a notice of bidding at a certain city’s Web site for 500 coffee mugs).

Aside from the visual pollution that these idiocies bring, imagine the amount of public funds (coming from our taxes, withheld from our hard-earned salaries) being expended just to satisfy the narcissism of our public officials. These are unnecessary expenditures, spent in aid of the incumbent’s re-election bid. It could be spent somewhere else, like an honest-to-Heaven drainage that works, or public markets whose rentals small sidewalk vendors can afford, or for an efficient street lighting system.

This is the rationale for my proposed anti-political narcissism law. This law will disallow the use of public funds to have the name, face, signature, picture of the incumbent (in any form, analog, digital) plastered all over the place. While I know that public works need to be announced via billboards, they should not contain the face of the incumbent, only the name and position of the incumbentonly text like “Project of the City of Caloocan.” This law will cover all government officials (elected or appointed) and employees, including those from government owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs).

One can argue that this is unconstitutional under the Bill of Rights (free speech, anyone), and I will leave that to the courts. I don’t think it is a violation of the Bill of Rights – the law would only prohibit the use of public funds for such narcissistic acts. Politicians can plaster their faces anywhere using their own money – as long as the money is legitimately earned; donations are not allowed.

These forms shall not be allowed:

* Billboards (analog or digital), streamers, tarpaulins, posters, stickers, and the likes
* Web sites
* Publication materials (books, pamphlets, etc)
* Pictures
* Collaterals (coffee mugs, canvas tents, etc)
* TV/radio/print/online ads

Did I miss anything?