Strict enforcement of billboards ban urged

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago urged Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. to strictly enforce a department circular that bans billboards from being displayed along major roads nationwide.

Santiago said the circular was recently submitted by the National Building Code Development Office (NBCDO), and now awaiting the signature of the DPWH chief.

Santiago lauded the NBCDO, under Director Emmanuel Cuntanay, for prioritizing the interest of motorists amid pressures presumably exerted by executives of the multi-million billboard advertising industry.

Santiago, a member of the powerful Commission on Appointments, told Ebdane that the ball is now in his hands. She warned that the matter will be brought up when the CA tackles his confirmation in the near future.

"He ought to heed the call of the times and do the right thing — implement the banning of billboards along major thoroughfares, pending a Congressional approval of a law on it," Santiago said.

The Senate, when it resumes next week, is set to deliberate on Santiago’s pet bill (Senate Bill 1714 or The Anti-Billboards Blight Act of  2006). The bill considers advertising billboards and signs too distracting and pose road safety risks for motorists.

Last year, Santiago asserted that Metro Manila mayors and the National Building Code have enough powers to regulate and even ban some billboards.

"Metro Manila has become a billboard hell because of the unchecked corporate greed of private advertising firms. It is disappointing that Metro Manila mayors turn a blind eye to these nuisances that pose danger to public safety and to morality," Santiago said.

Santiago is chairman of a subcommittee on billboards and signages, under the public works committee chaired by Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr.

"It is time to be tough on dangerous and lascivious billboards," Santiago said.

Santiago cited that the National Building Code prohibits billboards that obstruct the view of any official traffic sign or signal. The law also prohibits signs that obstruct the natural view of the landscape or pose traffic hazards.

"Under the Civil Code, a billboard which constitutes a public nuisance can be torn down even without judicial proceedings," Santiago said, adding that the primary responsibility of the government now is to implement the National Building Code.

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