Miriam goes ballistic over Metro billboards

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, author of Senate bill regulating billboards, called a public hearing on the said bill on Wednesday, to which she has invited Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Solicitor General Alfredo Benipayo, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando and the mayors of Metro Manila.

Santiago issued the call following last Thursday’s eight-hour disruption of Metro Rail Transit (MRT) operations caused by a fallen billboard in Cubao, Quezon City.

Santiago noted that Metro Manila mayors have enough powers under the Civil Code and the National Building Code to regulate and even ban some billboards.

"Metro Manila has become a billboard hell because of the unchecked corporate greed of private advertising firms," said the senator, who also chairs the sub-committee on billboards and signages under the public works committee chaired by Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr.

"It is time to be tough on dangerous billboards. I will urge the justice secretary to move for the lifting of the preliminary injunction against billboard removal. And I will ask the solicitor general to sue the private ad firm for at least P4 million in damages to the MRT," Santiago said.

The MRT estimated repair costs and lost revenues at P4 million when operations were disrupted after a fallen billboard tarpaulin fell on the power lines.

The MMDA is barred from tearing down billboards because of a preliminary injunction issued by a court in a case filed by a private ad firm.

Santiago said the National Building Code prohibits billboards that obstruct the view of any official traffic sign or signal.

The law also prohibits billboards that obstruct the natural view of the landscape or pose a traffic hazard, the senator said.

"Under the Civil Code, a billboard which constitutes a public nuisance can be torn down even without judicial proceedings. I find it strange that a court would issue a preliminary injunction against a public official seeking to protect road safety," Santiago said.

The senator said she will urge Gonzalez to direct the state prosecutor to file an urgent motion to lift the preliminary injunction. She added that if the motion is denied, she will urge the solicitor general to appeal the case if necessary, to the Supreme Court.

Santiago explained that a billboard qualifies as a nuisance if it endangers the safety of other people, or shocks the morality of the public, or obstructs the free passage of any public highway.

In a related development, a councilor from Quezon City vowed yesterday to assume the fight against the commercial billboards after the MMDA admitted it can do nothing about it.

Councilor Winston Castelo said he recently introduced a resolution calling for the imposition of a moratorium on the construction and installation of billboards, at least in Quezon City.

The councilor expressed optimism that his resolution will get approval from the City Council and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. due to the mounting complaints of residents against the hazards posed by the billboards.

"Many of our constituents have already filed complaints against the onslaught of badly placed, ill-constructed and tasteless billboards," he said.

Earlier, the Quezon City Homeowners Association Inc. raised concern over the hazards posed by the billboards during typhoons and earthquakes.

In a letter to the city government last week, the group urged local officials to regulate billboard installation particularly those erected along the thoroughfares.