DPWH wants billboard construction stopped

THE Department of Public Works and Highways-Davao (DPWH) told the City Government to stop the billboard construction along Quirino Avenue after its owner failed to follow rules of the National Building Code.

In a letter sent to acting building official Engr. Jaime G. Adalin, DPWH district engineer Lorna T. Ricardo recommended the revocation of the permit issued to the structure's owner Chrischiller T. Arrieta of Supreme Ads and Signs.

DPWH initially issued a sign permit clearance to Arrieta on August 28, 2012 for the construction of his billboard, but the office discovered the structure didn't comply with the conditions set by the DPWH and also violated rules on signs and signages after an inspection.

Prior to the DPWH-Davao's recommendation, the construction of the structure also met stiff opposition from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Davao (LTFRB11) and Philippine National Police-Traffic Group (PNP-TG) for posing danger to the riding public.

LTFRB regional director Benjamin Go sent a letter to Adalin dated December 27 expressing its opposition to the billboard of Arrieta and listing several findings on the project.

"The hot works and steel angle bars going up using a rope of the under construction billboard of Mr. Arrieta endangers the riding public specially during rush hours when passengers are waiting for the next Annil bus trip to Calinan," Go said.

The PNP-Traffic Group and Moonbeem Realty Development Corp. also opposed the billboard's construction.

Because of the opposition to the project, Barangay St. Jude 6-A wrote Arrieta a letter asking him to cease the construction of his billboard.

"We are also concerned of the expenses you have incurred for the said project," barangay captain Hector Emmanuel T. Delos Reyes said in his letter to Arrieta. (CRAM)