Billboard ban tree at Capitol not spared

CEBU, Philippines - While the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) urged candidates to refrain from nailing or tacking posters on trees, a coconut tree inside the Cebu Provincial Capitol compound was not spared.

Neither the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) nor the contractor was responsible in nailing the billboard in a coconut tree near the entrance of the Office of the Governor at the right wing of the Capitol building.

The Mega Plus Construction has undertaken the rehabilitation, reconstruction, upgrading of damaged paved national road inside the Capitol compound.

The DPWH Cebu City District Engineering Office implemented the project which started last February 4, 2013 and was completed March 3, 2013 based on information written on the said billboard.

The billboard is visible to all officials including the public entering the premises using the main gate along Escario Street.

As the local campaign period officially started, AGHAM Party-list Rep. Angelo B. Palmones earlier reminded supporters of local candidates to heed the call of DENR.

“We fully support the move of DENR to protect the trees. In fact, in 2010, we already filed a bill, which seeks to prohibit hanging and nailing of advertisements and posters on trees,” Palmones explained.

The proposed measure, House Bill 3539, also known as the “No Billboards and Advertisements on Trees and Similar Plants on Highways and Public Places of 2010,” aims to protect trees planted along highways and in public places from the damage caused by posting of bills and advertisements.

Palmones said the bill also aims to promote to the highest degree possible the involvement of all sectors of society in the protection of trees.

As provided under the bill, covered by the prohibition of posting of bills and advertisements are trees and similar plants along national highways and provincial, city and municipal roads and other streets and those found in public places such as national, provincial, city and municipal parks.

The bill proposes the first offense to be penalized with a fine of P2,000 for each single act or posting on one tree. For second offense the fine is doubled, while third offense is triple the fine of the first offense or imprisonment for a minimum of six months and maximum of 12 months or both. For the fourth and succeeding offense, the fine is double of the previous fine or imprisonment.

Palmones said fines are payable to the city or municipality where the offense occurred provided that the provincial government shall have a share of 30 percent of fines paid.  (FREEMAN)