DPWH-7 tears down illegally installed political ads, billboards

CEBU, Philippines - Officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways-7 yesterday started tearing down illegally installed billboards and political advertisements.

DPWH-7 Regional Director Ador Canlas said that those blocking the road right-of-way along national roads will be removed.

Canlas and some personnel from the maintenance department started to remove these obstructions, including some tarpaulins of candidates and other signages.

“This is a continuing maintenance activity for the whole of Region VII,” Canlas said in a text message to The FREEMAN.

It can be recalled that DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson issued a circular directing district engineers to prevent and regulate the unauthorized display of commercial advertising signs such as streamers, billboards, banners and stickers within the road right of way of national and secondary roads.

In the same circular, the secretary urged their regional officials to strictly enforce the provision of the National Building Code regulating the display and installation of billboards as unauthorized billboards confuse or obstruct the view of the motorists or interpretation of official traffic signs, signals or devices, and should be totally prohibited.  (FREEMAN)