Billboards along Edsa checked

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) began Wednesday its inspection of some 2,000 billboards posted along Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue (Edsa).

The inspection, according to MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, is part of their campaign to rid the metropolis of billboards and similar structures found not in compliance with the provisions of the National Building Code.

Tolentino, along with other agency officials, started their inspection of billboards located near the MMDA main office in Guadalupe, Makati before proceeding to Pasay City. The initial inspection would last for about two weeks.

After Edsa, the MMDA will conduct similar inspection along Roxas Boulevard and C5 road.

"All billboards found violating the Building Code would be removed," said the MMDA chief.

Tolentino said they are coordinating with the local government units (LGU) and the public works department to ensure the success of the campaign.

Engineers from the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers would also assist the MMDA in the inspection, he said.

Earlier, Tolentino met with officials of Ad Standards Council Inc., Philippine Association of National Advertisers, Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies, and the Outdoor Advertising Association of the Philippines (OAAP) to discuss measures to stem the proliferation of billboards along Edsa and other major thoroughfares.

Aside from public safety, the MMDA said the unrestrained proliferation of billboards and similar structures constituted visual pollution of the urban landscape.

The Building Code stated that: No signs or signboards shall be erected in such a manner as to confuse or obstruct the view or interpretation of any official traffic sign signal or device" and that "no signboards shall be constructed as to unduly obstruct the natural view of the landscape, distract or obstruct the view of the public as to constitute a traffic hazard, or otherwise defile, debase, or offend the aesthetic and cultural values and traditions of the Filipino people." (AH/Sunnex)