The Cebu provincial government has covered the faces of former politicians printed on 17,000 notebooks with stickers so these can be used and not wasted for public school students. The notebooks are part of a large school supplies distribution program targeting over one million students across the province, funded with over P370 million.
Background of the Repurposed Notebooks
According to Cebu Province School Board Focal Christopher Baricuatro in a media interview on Thursday, June 18, 2026, the 17,000 notebooks from the previous administration feature the faces of the former governor and provincial board members.
To cover the politician images, the province purchased stickers bearing the Cebu Province logo, which also have spaces for the student's name, grade, and section. Baricuatro clarified that the remaining new school supplies from that million-set are directly printed with the official provincial logo.
"The main instruction of Governor Pam is that the students should be able to concentrate on their studies rather than looking at pictures," Baricuatro said. He added that the supplies are funded by taxpayers, not the personal money of politicians.
Educational Content on Notebooks
The back cover of the repurposed notebooks features educational tools, including shapes and numbers for younger students, and multiplication tables for higher grade levels.
Baricuatro explained that the decision also follows the nationwide "anti-epal" policy under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular 2026-006. This directive strictly prohibits displaying the names, images, or likenesses of government officials on items, programs, and infrastructure funded by government money.
