By KRIS BAYOS
August 14, 2012, 7:46pm
The Metro Rail Transit (MRT) is pulling out advertisements displayed
at its stations, replacing in their stead art works from schools and
universities.The pull-out of advertisements will result in at least P1 million a month in non-rail revenues, according to MRT general manager Al Vitangcol III.
"MRT is only earning P1 million from advertisement per month. The advertising contracts are disadvantageous to the government so we deemed it better to not renew them, better not to have any at all," he said.
The contracts with various advertisers were forged before the assumption of Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II.
Vitangcol said that the previous management of MRT has sold the stations' prime advertising space at very low price, which is very disadvantageous to the government.
In lieu of the advertisements, art pieces contributed by different colleges and universities will be displayed at the MRT stations.
"Losing P1 million per month is small compared to the gain we will have for giving passengers an aesthetic experience every time they ride the MRT," Vitangcol said.
The official said they aim to make traversing the stretch of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) via the MRT 3 like strolling around an art museum for riders.
