Lawmaker dismayed over removal of signage bearing his name

AN WARAY party-list Representative Florencio Noel expressed disappointment over the City Government’s removal of billboards, signage, and tanod outpost bearing his name and initials.

“I am saddened by the action of the City Government. They did not follow the usual process of finding out if these tarpaulins (billboards) and tanod outposts are obstructing passageways. Why are they subjective?” Noel said.

Police records showed that before night-time on Thursday, several billboards put up by barangay officials expressing gratitude to Noel’s projects were wantonly removed by members of the city’s volunteer traffic enforcers and some hired workers.

Despite resistance, the barangay officials also reported to the police the removal of tanod outposts from their areas.

“I do not understand why the present administration is preventing a Taclobanon from helping fellow Taclobanons,” Noel said.

“I think they have made their treatment that is bad enough for Tacloban and we will make everything right,” the lawmaker added.

Meanwhile, City Information officer Bernardita Valenzuela said the pulling out of billboards and other signages all over the city was “long overdue.”

Valenzuela added there is a memorandum from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) banning names or initials and pictures of government officials in billboards and signages of government programs, projects, and properties.

“That is long overdue kay natalapas ha (violative of the) DILG directive. It’s good it was done. Basta mga projects nga may ngaran hin pulitiko (Any projects bearing politicians’ names) ngatanan (all) will be removed,” Valenzuela said in an interview aired over DyVL.

For his part, Vice Mayor Arvin Antoni said he does not question the DILG order as a policy of the City Government but rather asked why it is “selective” and “directed at Noel’s billboards.”

“This is the height of his (the Mayor’s) insecurity and desperation. In my capacity as vice mayor, I urged all barangay officials to implement the DILG memorandum circular in their respective areas,” Antoni said during a press briefing on Friday.

“Tanggala it billboards hin bisan hin-o nga opisyal to (remove all billboards of all officials) include Mayor Romualdez and Councilor Cristina G. Romualdez!” Antoni said.

The vice mayor stressed if the City Government is serious in implementing the DILG directive, then the city mayor should start removing his pictures on the licenses and permits issued to businessmen.

“He should also remove their names on huge tarpaulins. He should lead by example,” Antoni said, referring to Mayor Romualdez. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)