Makati ordinance regulates billboard locations, sizes

There is no longer any room for oversized billboards and signs in Makati City after a new ordinance set limits on their location and sizes.

In a news release posted on its website Thursday, the city government said the "Billboard and Signage Ordinance of Makati" took effect Monday, June 30.

City Ordinance No. 2013-A-044 provides the legal basis to order the removal of billboards and signage that may endanger city residents and the public, it added.

“The new Billboard and Signage Ordinance of Makati will be strictly enforced by the city government primarily to ensure public safety. It is also intended to address concerns about visual blight and clutter and improve the city skyline and its environment,” Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. said.

Now that the ordinance has taken effect, the city government said it will evaluate existing and proposed non-mobile billboards and signs in the city.

The mayor also said a moratorium on the construction and installation of new billboards in the city will be in effect unless lifted by a separate ordinance.

Limits on billboards

The new ordinance sets dimensions and spacing between billboards at designated locations identified a "Billboard Location Map."

The map is divided into:

• Area 1 (along major roads such as EDSA, South Superhighway, Magallanes Avenue, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue and Ayala Avenue)
• Area 2 (along secondary roads)
• Area 3 (special development zones).

Billboards along roads more than 45 meters wide should be no bigger than 162 square meters.

Those along roads 20 to 45 meters wide should not be bigger than 81 square meters while those along roads less than 20 meters wide should not be bigger than 40 square meters.

In Area 1, a freestanding billboard or electronic display must not exceed 22.5 meters (73.8 feet) in height, which is to be measured from the average elevation of the surface of the natural ground or existing sidewalk or carriageway level (whichever is higher), up to the highest point of the billboard or any of its components.

Spacing between billboards in Area 1 are also pegged against road width:

• 150 meters spacing for road width of 45 meters
• 100 meters for road width from 20 to 45 meters
• 50 meters for road width of less than 20 meters

The maximum height of a building-mounted billboard in Area 1 must conform with the building height limit (BHL) requirements, non-obstruction of doors and windows, building code and zoning ordinance requirements, the city government said.

The city government said inspection teams are being deployed inspect billboards and see if they follow the new guidelines.

Inspection teams will start with major thoroughfares like EDSA and South Superhighway.

"The results of the evaluations will be the basis for the preparation of notifications to concerned billboard owners and advertisers," it said.

On the other hand, it said billboard owners and advertisers may volunteer for evaluation and submit pertinent documents to the city's Zoning Administration Division.

It said they may submit the current building permit, approved plan, picture of the billboard, and complete address to the ZAD office at 2/F, old City Hall building along J.P. Rizal St., Poblacion, Makati. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News