Thursday, January 31, 2008 Smear campaign vs. Sara's anti-billboard stance starts By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE makings of a smear campaign against Vice Mayor Sara Duterte over her policy not to issue permits for construction of billboards in Davao City has started.
This as the acting mayor continued to stand her ground over the issue.
In a text message that's been circulating the past days, the young Duterte was questioned on her iron-fist policy against billboard when she turns a blind eye on "illegal signboards" located along the overpass.
"Bakit po bise mayor galit kayo sa mga billboard owners? Bakit di nyo po tingnan ang illegal na signboards sa mga overpass na pagmamay-ari ng kapatid mo na konsehal at Genesis," the text message read. (What are you angry at the billboard owners? Why don't you look at the illegal signboards along the overpass that are owned by you sibling who is a councilor?)
"Gusto nyo po bang solohin ang negosyo dito sa syudad ng Davao? Tama na po sana ang pagsolo ng pamilya no sa pang-gobyerno," added the text message. (Do you want to corner all business here in Davao? It's enough that your family has cornered government posts.)
Councilor Paolo Z. Duterte, Sara's elder brother, is one of the owners of Genesis, which is into signage and second-hand vehicles.
Repeated efforts to get the side of the young Dutertes on the issue failed as of this writing.
But last Tuesday night, during the live program of Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy's "Give Us This Day", Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte said that for as long as the companies have all the necessary permits, they can put up billboards according to the standards set.
"If all the laws of government are complied with, then there is no reason for the city to stop them," he said.
He pointed out that there are laws governing the construction of billboards that have to be complied with and that is why billboard companies must get permits for any billboard they put up.
"If it is not really unlawful, you can't stop it," he said.
Last Sunday at the "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" program, Sara Duterte called on billboard owners in Davao City to come forward and have a talk with her instead of asking mayor-on-leave Rodrigo R. Duterte for intercession.
The acting mayor said she received reports that some companies sought the help of her father after she announced that she does not intend to sign any permit for another billboard to be built.
"Ayaw mo'g tago-tago sa likod sa akong amahan. Kay mubalik na siya sa February 4 pero pag mu-leave usab na siya tapos ako na pud mulingkod isip acting mayor, pikatan ta gyud mong tanan. Mao na maayo pang muduol na lang mo sa akoa, ayaw ninyo hulata ako'y muduol ninyo," the vice mayor said. (Do not hide behind my father's back because even if he returns as mayor on February 4, once he takes a leave again then I will be acting mayor again, you can't do anything about that. That's why it's better if you just approach me with your concerns and don't wait for the time when I will be the one to approach you.)
She also urged residents where billboard structures are located to file complaints against the company and assured them that the City Government will provide them with livelihood provided they desist from accommodating billboard companies who rent their residential spaces for the structures.
The vice mayor maintained that for as long as she is the acting mayor, she will not give any permit for the construction of billboard structures in the city.
Sara's stance was the offshoot of the refusal of one billboard company to heed several notifications by the City Government about a steel structure it was putting up on top of a three-storey house at SIR in New Matina that was not issued any permit by the city engineer's office.
The billboard owner, however, was forced to tear down the structure after Sara threatened to have the city demolish it or better yet have the residents demolish it themselves and sell the steel bars as scrap.
She said the huge structures pose great danger to the public especially those residing near the billboard structures.
