Gov’t to start dismantling hazardous billboards

The government will now start dismantling billboards found hazardous to public safety in compliance with President Arroyo’s administrative order instructing the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to head the special interagency task force dubbed "Baklas Billboard."

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the President would also certify as urgent the bill of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago seeking to enforce strict regulations on the establishment of giant billboards.

Under Administrative Order No. 160, Mrs. Arroyo directed the DPWH to conduct field inspections, evaluations and assessments of billboards and determine which ones were hazardous and pose imminent danger to the general public.

Billboards violating applicable laws and those constructed without necessary permits will also be torn down with the help of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The DPWH was also instructed to submit a report to the Department of Justice, which will serve as the basis for filing of administrative, civil or criminal charges against billboard and building owners and public officials who granted permits to construct the structures.

During the onslaught of typhoon "Milenyo," some giant billboards collapsed along the highways, causing deaths, injuries and damage to property.

The AO said that since the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has reported that six more typhoons will hit the country before the year ends, it is imperative to dismantle hazardous and substandard billboards.

Government corporate counsel Agnes Devanadera said that aside from the AO, laws on billboard regulations should be updated because of improvements in the technology used in setting up billboards.

Militant youth group Anakbayan, however, challenged Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane to tear down Mrs. Arroyo’s own billboards first.

"They do that and we just might believe that they are truly on top of the billboard situation," the group said.

Meanwhile, Malacañang defended the wide powers given to Ebdane and the DPWH in dismantling advertising billboards.

At a press conference, Devanadera explained that under the National Building Code of 1982, the DPWH secretary remains as the country’s national building official.

"The law has not changed," she said, explaining that under the NBC Code, every municipality, city and province must have a local building official and they are all under the supervision of the DPWH secretary.

The president of the Outdoor Advertising Association of the Philippines (OAAP), however, appealed to Malacañang and Congress not to "kill" the billboard industry that employs more than 40,000 people.

At yesterday’s weekly Fernandina Media Forum at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan, Frank Abueva, president of the association, said that even before Milenyo, a few billboards had already collapsed prompting billboard owners to pay corresponding damages.— With Paolo Romero, Sandy Araneta, Evelyn Macairan, Helen Flores, Pia Lee-Brago, Non Alquitran