THERE will be no letup in in the renewed campaign against unsafe billboards under “Operation Roll Down, Baby,” an official of the Metropolitan Manila Development said on Monday.
Chairman Francis Tolentino said 46 advertisements on billboardshave been torn down for failing to meet the safety standards set by he National Building Code.
“Operation Roll Down, Baby will be intensified now that the rainy season has started,” Tolentino said. “We will inspect all billboards along Edsa and other major thoroughfares so we could identify and remove those that are in great risk of collapsing in times of bad weather,” he said.
MMDA workers dismantled 20 billboard advertisements, on the northbound lane of Edsa. Six were voluntarily removed by their owners.
Along the southbound lane, 26 advertisements were removed.
Tolentino warned operators of billboard advertisements that did not comply with the National Building Code requirements would be sent notices of violation where they would be given 15 days to undertake corrective measures.
Failure could lead to the dismantling of the entire steel structural frames, he said.
The most common violation of billboard advertisers is their failure to meet the easement requirements of five-meter front setback from the property line and the three-meter side and rear setback on Edsa.
He explained that the easement requirements are intended to ensure that billboard frames are set back from power lines, do not obstruct the natural view of landscape or become traffic hazards. The idea is to minimize damage should the billboards topple or collapse, Tolentino said.
