What is your comment on DPWH's move against 'immorality' in billboard advertising?

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: Good billboards serve as a showcase of our morality. Even foreigners, upon arrival, use them as a barometer as how to interact with us.

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: That’s a very noble move. It would be highly laudable if the DPWH started its campaign against immoral deals within its own ranks.

Why digress?

J. Nacilla, Las Piñas City: Is DPWH joining the circus against immorality? There are countless roads all over the country that are worse than a canal, so why divert the attention to immorality in billboard advertising? Is that more important than the flooded streets of Metro Manila? Where is MMDA?

Cris Rivera, Rizal: It’s not for DPWH to tell whether a billboard spells immorality. It’s not their concern; clogged canals and bumpy streets are. A usurpation of authority, maybe?

Aldo Apostol, Quezon City: Is “immorality” the right word against lewd billboard advertising? How do we define immorality in terms of advertising? Is it sexy, naked, half naked, provocative, seductive poses that define immoral billboard advertising compared to sex videos where the ‘act’ itself clearly defines immorality? How about the church? Why is it quiet on this issue? DPWH’s role is to tear down structures that do not comply with the Building Code, so why suddenly become advocates of “immorality”?

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City: DPWH should focus on the proper construction of such billboards and let the advertising board take care of art and obscenity in the displayed ads.

It distracts from DPWH anomalies

Elpidio Que, Vigan: DPWH’s move against “immorality” in billboard advertising is out of bounds. Who is it to decide what is moral and immoral when the agency has been, since time immemorial, racing for topnotch rank in corruption alongside the BoC and the BIR? That should be crap aimed at distracting us from DPWH anomalies reported by the World Bank.

Richard Decena, Quezon City: Nakakatawa at ipokrisya na magpanukala laban sa immorality ang isang departamento ng gobyerno na nangunguna sa pangungurakot.

Atty. Avelino Falcon, Khafji, Saudi Arabia: DPWH should be the last government agency to remind us about immorality. Corruption for which DPWH is known is far more immoral than those billboards along Edsa.

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: The DPWH is not qualified to act as a guardian of morality at a time when its integrity is being questioned.

Why only now?

Eddie Yap, Kabankalan City: The demolition of these billboards should’ve been done a long time ago. There are nice billboards along the major highways with artistic presentations but sometimes they can cause distractions especially those showing attractive men and women in skimpy underwear described with suggestive statements.

Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: This should’ve been done a long time ago. But I’m surprised it’s the DPWH that’s doing it. I don’t even hear the church this time.

J-Dub Wenceslao, Quezon City: Good move, bad timing. Why only now?

Bravo!

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: Immorality should have no place anywhere, much less in billboard advertising.

Lucas Banzon Madamba II, Laguna: It’s just right for the DPWH to go against “immorality” in billboard advertising as to prevent the public (especially the youth) from getting a glimpse of profligately shameless views of immorality that can possibly transgress the moral values, standards and principles of the people. The move of the DPWH against immorality can very well uplift the moral values, standards and principles of the people and the society in its entirety.

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: DPWH’s move must have come from a higher directive to take out offending ‘immoral’ billboard advertising. It cannot make such a decision alone. But it’s a good move, carry on! 

Vic Nario, Dagupan City: As in chess, the DPWH move on billboards is the best.

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: It is right and just. The Edsa billboard complex is a long-standing issue that even the great BF cannot stop or regulate greedy ad agencies. Government licensing agencies and advertisers are to blame. DPWH must put its foot down and regulate these monstrosities once and for all.

Ishmael Q. Calata, Parañaque City: A few years ago, after a killer typhoon destroyed and tore down many billboards in thoroughfares in Metro Manila, there was a public outcry demanding the dismantling of all such advertising billboards. It was really an opportune time to rid us of salacious sights on giant advertising billboards because they were not only unsightly that marred the beautiful view in our thoroughfares but showed pictures of men and women clad in scanty attires in poses that tend to seduce the minds. At that time, the media were on the side of the public and some people in government and in the political front publicly condemned these advertising billboards. All these died down in time. We don’t know why there has been a return of these, as if in a vengeance, making it appear as if sensual advertising were the vehicle to effective advertising! The DPWH must now act on this matter. Kudos!

Merlino Quinsay, Ilocos Sur: Clearing them up will clear the sky. Guguwapo na nga ang Metro Manila.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Jose Jumawan, Laguna: Who is to define what is immoral in advertising materials? After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: It’s an attempt to sanitize a perverted atmosphere of forever exploiting the human body as a tool of promoting products and services.

Leonard Villa, Batac City: I couldn’t see an iota of immorality in those billboards; what I see is artistic wizardry. Those DPWH officials are self-styled moralists.

Rid the agency of corruption first

J.R. Mondonedo Jr., Las Piñas City: Before the DPWH wages a campaign against immorality in billboard advertising, it should first get rid of corruption in their department. Aren’t its officials bothered that the agency is known as the department of public works and highway robbery?

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: DPWH just wants to earn pogi points. Better for the agency to get rid of graft and corruption in its ranks.

Edwin Monares, Rizal: It would be worthwhile for the leadership of the DPWH to announce to the whole world that it is to reform the very corrupt system and practices in the department. For starters, it should kick-out highly immoral officials of DPWH who are living in luxury and extravagance obviously from the proceeds of squandering tax payers’ money. While I am against evident immorality in billboard advertising, the DPWH should not put its dirty hand on the issue. Better for them to start a moral overhaul within the department.

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: This is a laudable DPWH’s move. On the other hand, how about the known immoral acts of corruption at the DPWH from the Secretary to the lowly kaminero?

Nito Aquino, Makati City: Who says the DPWH, one of the most corrupt/immoral government department, has the ascendancy to decide which billboards are obscene or immoral? Shucks!

Hope it won’t be a case of ningas cogon

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: I think immorality is not a matter of what it attempts to sell, but how it treats people, and I hope this move of the DPWH won’t be another case of ningas cogon.

Digoy Coro, Batangas: It’s a good move and should not be one of those ningas cogon projects. Those billboards cause accidents and are imparting bad values to our children.

Medel Verzosa, Ilocos Sur: This anti-immorality move is the most significant act the DPWH has done. I wish it were not just a flash-in-the-pan activity.

Lolong Rejano, Marinduque: Sad to say, it is bound to become another case of ningas cogon. How can we move on when the government is only consistent in its graft and corruption activities? Filipinos are the virtual losers.

Ed Ledesma, Iloilo City: Just another boring flash-in-the-pan project. As usual, nothing will come out of it.

Go ahead

Col Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City: If DPWH believes that a law was violated or the ads were offensive on morality, it should go ahead with the move, fair and square.

Dennis Acop, Baguio City: ‘Immorality’ is a big word. But I would personally be happy and I think a lot of people would, too, if indecent billboards were decreased or banned altogether. First, these are distracting and may cause accidents on the road from drivers staring at the billboards instead of on the road. Second, not having ‘immoral’ billboards lining our every consciousness as we travel each day lessens our children’s exposure to thoughts that pollute their minds. Third, we just have too many billboards. We can no longer see our city with all these billboards. I would like to travel down Edsa without seeing a single billboard for once.

Rey Onate, Palayan City: It’s a timely move to clear our highways of billboards that display scantily clad models in suggestive poses. Business without ethics has got to stop.

Nestor Buñag, Mandaluyong City: Uh, oh, we males are surely gonna miss the savory sights while cruising the highways. Seriously now, it’s a good move.

Dino Monzon, Caloocan City: I support the DPWH’s stance. It’s high time we got our acts together and thrashed these billboards that are suggestive and tempting ASAP!

Leave ads to the advertising board

Norberto Robles, Taguig: Morality is subjective. What the DPWH should remove are distracting billboards as evidenced by abnormal statistics of traffic accidents within visual reach of said billboards.

How about product ads on TV?

Fortunato Aguirre, Bulacan: I agree, but what about those bikini-clad beauties in beer and other product ads on TV? There is almost nothing left for one’s imagination halos kita na!

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Wala na bang magawa ang DPWH? Those ads are nothing compared to bikini dancers in noontime shows and the blatant womanizing of some.

Billboards are unsafe and unsound

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: Those billboards showing scantily clad models are not only against the Christian doctrine, but also pose dangers to motorists and pedestrians. Ban them.

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: I welcome the idea. Those billboards can cause accidents among motorists and corruption of minors when it comes to morality.

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: It’s a good move because those giant billboards are just a distraction to motorists and may contribute to immorality because it subsconsciously affects their minds.

L.C. Fiel, Quezon City: It’s about time. These billboards are not only a blight to the landscape, but also pose grave danger to motorists and to minors with raging hormones.

Benjamin Nillo, Las Piñas City: The DPWH’s move is highly commendable. Aside from addressing the issue of immorality, it considerably lessens driving distractions to our male.

Dave Velasco, Marinduque: DPWH has its own ‘immorality’ to speak of but, I opine, what it is thinking of is for the safety and security of motorists.

Rose Leobrera, Manila: Dapat lang cause it is disrupting motorists’ attention, causing traffic and even accidents.

A publicity stunt

Luisito Vallo, Pangasinan: It’s just a publicity gimmick of Sec. Ebdane. Ang tagal na niya dyan sa DPWH, yet it’s only now that he’s doing something about it. Could it be because 2010 is fast approaching?

An offshoot of the Kho-Halili controversy?

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: Right move, wrong timing, for it seems that the DPWH is only riding on the Kho-Halili controversy.

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: The DPWH is overacting and only wants to ride on the Hayden-Katrina controversy. The alleged immorality on billboard advertising must be looked into for proper perspective.

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: It’s a pathetic try by the DPWH to ride on the current issues caused by the Katrina-Hayden scandal. It’s a cover-up of its stinking image as a corrupt government agency further blackened by World Bank bidding anomalies.

Kelvin Casamayor, Ilocos Sur: This action is very late. They just waited for the Hayden-Katrina controversy before deciding to prioritize the dismantling of lewd billboards.

My Two Cents’ Worth

Juan Deveraturda, Zambales: I’m glad to know that Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile was fuming mad about losing his cellphone load. I’m not a senator like him who has access to media to ventilate his anger, but as a subscriber like him, I like to air my anger through Inbox, on the same problem of losing my hard-earned cellphone load. I hope the good senator would really look into this issue and do something to protect us subscribers from what he described as “estafa” and “fraud” being perpertrated by these telecom companies.

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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