Pasay judge stops MMDA from dismantling billboard in QC

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said yesterday it was stopped by a Pasay City judge from rolling down a billboard in Quezon City despite a request from the Quezon City government to do so.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said Pasay City Regional Trial Court Judge Divina Gracia Pelino issued a writ of preliminary injunction dated Jan. 12, 2012 directing the agency to refrain from dismantling 119 billboards owned by the United Neon Sign and Services.

In a statement, Tolentino said while the petition for injunction covered only two billboards, the issued writ covered 119 billboards.

Tolentino said the writ was issued pursuant to a petition for injunction filed by Ever Corp., a client of United Neon Sign and Services, against the MMDA after the agency dismantled Ever’s billboard at 995 UC Dapitan Hardware/Lumbe along EDSA in Quezon City.

MMDA Legal and Legislative Affairs Staff Director Rochelle Macapili-Ona clarified that the dismantling was done upon the request of the Quezon City government.

According to the MMDA, Quezon City building officer Isagani Versoza had issued a dismantling order to United Neon as early as Aug. 14, 2011. The order was formally endorsed to the MMDA last Oct. 11.

“The subject billboard owned by Ever Corp. does not have a building permit,” Ona said in a statement. “This is an outright violation of the National Building Code, which requires that all structures, whether these buildings or outdoor advertising signs, should obtain a building permit. Where the law does not distinguish, we should not distinguish.”

Ona said under Section 301 of the National Building Code, any entity erecting or constructing any building or structure should first obtain a building permit from the building official assigned in the place where the building is located.

“The writ of injunction now dispenses with this very important requirement,” Ona said.

Meanwhile, Tolentino said the MMDA is considering filing administrative charges against Pelino for issuing an order he described as patently illegal.