The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said yesterday almost all billboards and outdoor advertising structures in the country are illegal and must be dismantled immediately.
National Building Code (NBC) Executive Director Emmanuel Cuntapay revealed that 90 percent of billboards nationwide, including some 3,000 freestanding structures, had been found to be in violation of existing rules and provisions.
“Most of these billboards violate the setback provision. But our prime priority right now is public safety so we are focusing more on those billboards that are considered dangerous to motorists and pedestrians in times of disasters,” he told reporters in an interview.
The DPWH resumed last Tuesday its Oplan Baklas Billboard and dismantled seven billboards in Quezon City and Manila.
“There will be more to come but we need to observe due process and notify the owners of their violation before we undergo dismantling. We will first advise them to voluntarily dismantle their structures and if they do not comply within a prescribed period, we will do it for them,” Cuntapay said.
He clarified however, for government-initiated dismantling, the DPWH will confiscate the steel bars owned by the billboard owners to recover the expenses incurred in the operation.
Cuntapay said they will conduct their billboard dismantling campaign once a week. The drive was initiated last year in compliance with Administrative Order 160 and 160A.
The Malacañang directive was issued last year in the wake of Typhoon Milenyo, when substandard billboards collapsed and caused deaths, injuries and damage to property. – Edu Punay