THE Talisay City Hall is set to regulate the posting of billboards and tarpaulin banners bearing pictures of local traders, some of whom are potential candidates for next year’s election.

The City Council, in its regular session last Tuesday, agreed the tarpaulin sheets should be removed if the owners have not applied for a permit from City Hall.

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Among those on display are the materials of Poblacion Barangay Councilman Richard “Choy” Aznar, who advertises a family-owned university; Linao Barangay Councilman Val Ylanan, a scrap metal trader; Dory Emit, a resort proprietor; and Alvin Diaz, a son of a funeral homes owner.

Councilor Shirley Belleza said the Office of the Building Official (OBO) and the licensing division have been tasked to verify if the posted tarpaulins have permits from City Hall.

Both Ylanan and Emit told reporters they obtained permits from City Hall.

The two said they paid the private owners for the lease of the lots where their tarpaulins currently stand.

OBO Chief Ariel Araw-araw said that so far, their records show only Ylanan has applied for a sign permit. This was approved, giving the businessman at least one month to display the materials.

City officials, however, have their own materials.

Both Mayor Socrates Fernandez and Rep. Eduardo R. Gullas (Cebu Province, 1st district) have billboards displaying various messages, some commenting on occasions like fiestas and graduations.