What do you think of MMDA's move to remove 'offensive' billboards?

Rene Poder, Manila: In the first place, why do we have major road billboards? Then, the scantily clad models are a driving distraction.

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: What’s explicit, and what’s not? MMDA should not remove billboards. These billboards at least help cool hot heads during traffic jams.

On freedom of expression

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: How does MMDA classify a billboard as ‘offensive’ without violating freedom of expression?

Jesus Mendoza, Pangasinan: MMDA must have clear criteria to differentiate plain obscenity from artistic freedom, as encompassed by freedom of expression in those billboards.

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: It’s arbitrary, due to a lack of appreciation of the arts by the concerned agency, therefore, it’s a violation of freedom of expression. The main reason should be the danger that may be posed during typhoons or calamities.

Potential danger to motorists

Felix Ramento, USA: We have the right government agency to take care of the issue. My personal take is that billboards should not be allowed where they could distract and pose a danger to motorists, specifically in freeways and highways.

John Canda, Davao del Norte: The MMDA is right in ordering the scrapping of billboards, including the immodest ones, because they potentially cause highway accidents.

Rex Earlou Calmerin, Iligan City: Not a problem for me. After all, MMDA’s action prevents traffic mishaps or accidents during bad weather conditions.

Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: Billboards cause traffic accidents, especially when ‘bold’ actresses are exploited to promote products of highly competitive profit-making corporations. Billboards are also prone to typhoon-related accidents, when they are not constructed in accordance with national building code.

Diony Yap, Bacolod City: Bilisan na ang pagtanggal ng mga ‘offensive’ billboards na ‘yan, hindi lamang sa Kalakhang Maynila kundi sa buong bansa. Huwag na nating antayin pang ang Inang Kalikasan ang siyang babaklas sa mga naturang agaw-pansing offensive billboards na ‘yan.

Degrades morals and values

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: A very good move. They distract drivers and degrade our morals and values.

Noel Navales, Metro Manila: To the MMDA: Ang pakialaman ninyo yung malaswa.

Elmo Cruz, Manila: ‘Offensive billboards’ are those that have lustful appeal. Ads for motorcycle or health food with scantily-clad women may draw the attention of motorists, who may lose their focus on their driving and get into accidents. The same is true of macho models that expose their sexually attractive parts to women and gays. Actually, those sexy models are irrelevant to the products they are promoting. Aside from causing accidents, those ads send immoral messages that could be picked up by spiritually and morally immature people. Ads of this kind should be banned from all forms of media.

Censorship is a must

Louella Brown, Baguio City: Those offensive billboards have no place in a decent metropolis. They should not be there in the first place.

Bong Nebrija, Quezon City: What a waste of time, money and effort. We need the MMDA to be more proactive and screen these billboards, before they are raised or even before they are made. I know that the advertising industry has better ways of promoting products decently, even if has to do with underwear or lingerie. I wonder if the people who made these ads could drive their own children along Guadalupe Bridge and proudly say “that’s my work” or maybe they don’t have children, so they do not care at all.

Misplaced morality

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: Siguro inggit lang sila sa mga magagandang katawan at porma. Morality is not for show, but an earnest practice.

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: MMDA is trying hard to beat the church as moralists. Kulang lang yata sa lagay sa mga advertisers.

Isn’t it late in the game?

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: It’s too late the hero on the part of the MMDA, as these “offensive” billboards have been a part of the metropolitan scenery for many years now. The fact that such “offensive” billboards have suddenly been regarded as obscene and contrary to some outmoded standards seems to be a return to ancient times or rather Maria Clara’s era.

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: MMDA’s move to remove offensive billboards is a bright idea, but why act after the fact? Why allow first spending money in the installation thereof, only to remove later? Is this for propaganda purposes to let people know that MMDA is working?

Fhema Forayo, Metro Manila: It’s awkward! Is this not a problem since way back? These sexy billboards have been a distraction since long ago. There must be an anomaly between the officials in charge and the advertising companies, that it has taken only this time for the officials to take those down.

Visual pollution

Janet Lopez, Manila: Underwear ads are particularly offensive. Why add to the visual pollution?

Johann Lucas, Quezon City:  It’s high time. Metro Manila’s streets are embarrassing. One can hardly see the traffic signs and signals. Streets should be streets and should not look like candy wrappers.

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: It’s a very good and long overdue move. MMDA and other government agencies should remove all types of billboard structures, not only in Metro Manila, but also those along NLEX, SLEX, CTEX and other thoroughfares outside Metro Manila, since they are eyesores that distract motorists, causing accidents.

A feast for the senses

Rose Leobrera, Manila: For me, they are a feast for the senses, especially if they are well /brightly lit. These styles leave a mark on the mind, and thus, I find interest in buying them, especially if the models possess beauty and a nice body, and/or if the model is credible and trusted. In the US, billboards are beautifully designed and nice to look at. The feeling is always as if it’s Christmas. It’s the same in some Asian countries (only I don’t understand the language).

J.R. Mondonedo Jr., Parañaque City: If seeing beautiful, sexy women on billboards is offensive, then I would suggest not to remove it. As a matter of fact, they should put some more of these, because it’s pleasing to the eye, makes my day after having a hard day’s work, and makes other men wish they should have never gotten married, coming home to fat, unattractive, nagging, suspicious, homely-looking wives.

Good job, MMDA!

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: Dapat lang. Imagine driving your car along Edsa and you see those big and offensive billboards staring at you, as if calling your attention to look at them. More power, MMDA!

Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: Good job, MMDA, it’s about time. Those billboards are truly eyesores and a big waste of money.

Juan Deveraturda, Subic, Zambales: Dapat lang po na gawin ‘yun ng MMDA. Kasi sumusobra na ang mga advertisers. Dapat tumulong din ang mga local government sa pagbaklas ng mga malalaswang billboards.

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: If it contributes to the betterment of society, then keep up the good work.

Declare Edsa a no-billboard zone

Ruth Sacro, Marikina City: We must remove all billboards in Edsa. They create destruction, traffic and, worse, accidents. ‘Yan ang pinaglalaban ni Bayani Fernando noon pa.

Ishmael Calata, Parañaque City: The move is correct, as these billboards are dubbed offensive. It is no longer within the aegis of ‘freedom of expression’. I would like to add that all giant billboards, especially those showing moving graphics, in very busy thoroughfares, like Edsa and C-5, can cause accidents, as they attract and take the drivers’ eyes momentarily off the road. Furthermore, I’d like to say that a few years ago, there was a move to dismantle all giant billboards at Edsa, after some of them were torn down by high winds during a typhoon. Why didn’t it prosper? And why not declare Edsa as a no-billboard thoroughfare, which otherwise would be a beautiful road traversing the metropolis, to clear it of eyesores! Three claps for MMDA.

Ads used to be inspiring

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: Who conceptualized these offensive monstrosities anyway? In my childhood days, ads were inspiring. Remember that huge kettle pouring hot cocoa in a huge china cup at the Met? Umuusok pa, made you search for a cafe and have a “cuppa”. These modern billboards make me call my ‘GF’ for a tryst!

Lea Vi Estrada, Metro Manila: Tama lang na alisin na ang mga ganoong billboard. Ang mga ganoong billboards kasi e nagbibigay lang ng maling konsepto, nakakasira pa sa daloy ng trapiko. Why not change those billboards into something that would make Filipino citizens become concerned individuals and care for the country?

Lucas Banzon Madamba, Laguna: The MMDA has the appropriate plan and move to remove billboards that are obnoxiously offensive to the public eye. What should be placed are billboards that promote professional perspectives, such as educational, healthcare, infrastructure and those that promote programs for the reduction of poverty.

For the sake of profit

Desuel Pardo, Mandaluyong City: Ang mabisang panghihikayat sa pansin ng mga tao ay pagpapakita ng mga nakatutuksong babae o lalake. Ang ‘di ko maunawaan ay pagpayag ng mga may-ari ng mga produktong ina-advertise na nauuna pang mapansin ang mga nakatutuksong modelo kaysa kanilang product. Marahil ay lumalakas ang benta ng kanilang product kung may kasamang tukso. Maraming tao ang ipagbibili ang kanilang kaluluwa kumita lamang ng pera.

Don’t single out billboards

Deo Durante, Camarines Sur: There are regulations governing billboards. Advertising companies should strictly follow the mandate. I hope the MMDA, on the other hand, will not single out billboard advertisements alone as there are a lot of lewd realities in the metro, and these should be checked.

Elpidio Que, Vigan: I believe that this is about the giant billboards along Edsa in Guadalupe, where macho men clad in briefs show their bodies. If the advertisers’ target viewers are men, they greatly erred. It’s women and gays who relish looking at these, for certain, not straight men. But of billboards with sexy women, I would be a hypocrite if I say that I do not relish looking at them. I love watching beautiful women. If these advertisements on billboards are truly offensive to the howlers, how come they are silent about the same on TV and print media where they proliferate? We don’t even hear any word from the CBCP that these billboards are offensive, as MMDA says, correct? And if, indeed, MMDA is for the general public, how come it is blind to cigarette signages, which proliferate the streets of Metro Manila. Aren’t these prohibited by law?

Why put them up in the first place?

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: If the removal of offensive billboards is lawful, then I’m for it. But why allow the putting up of these billboards in the first place?

Strict implementation of the law

Jeff Ervin Ramon, Metro Manila: Billboards are good as long as they serve their purpose, which is to promote/advertise a product. Aside from that, it is also a source of income for the government. But the problem arises when these billboards become eyesores on the streets, especially those ‘offensive’ or ‘indecent’ ones, because they cause accidents, influence minds of young people, etc. So, the challenge for the government is to strictly implement the laws/codes regarding the putting up of billboards.

Leonard Kristian Gelacio, Cauayan City: The MMDA’s move is right. I suggest that there should be a law prohibiting advertisers from making obscene billboards.

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: Let’s get on with it and be consistent.

Before it gets worse

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: If they are not going to remove those billboards, what are they going to think of next? Maybe a young model wearing sanitary napkins? Baklasin!

MMDA needs to earn the people’s respect

J.T. Fuerte, Manila: I’m all for it!  However, I’m inclined to believe that the MMDA is once again embarking on just another ningas cogon campaign, where initial actions usually start with a full burst of steam but quickly fizzles out as rapidly as it began. Remember their campaigns against colorum buses, the speedsters, litterbugs, and their ban against smoking in “no-no” places?  You hardly see them checking the roads for colorum buses anymore, while speedsters, litterbugs, and smokers are still....well, speeding, littering and smoking in numbers in unauthorized areas. Is it any wonder that people seem to treat every MMDA effort to promote or enforce anything as a joke or something to be taken for granted?  If MMDA is really serious about enforcing reforms, they should deploy enough personnel to enforce them, stick to them, and see them through all the way, until the people get the message that compliance is not an option. If we can make our citizens get used to complying, it would make a whole lot of difference in restoring discipline.

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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