Some outdoor advertisers take down billboards in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Wary of causing deaths and injuries in the wake of typhoon “Emong," some outdoor advertisers in Metro Manila have taken down their giant billboards, a radio report said Thursday. Radio dzBB’s Sam Nielsen reported that many of the billboards along C-5 Road in Pasig City were taken down as early as Wednesday night, after weather authorities warned of strong winds and rains from the oncoming storm. But in southern Metro Manila, dzBB’s Manny Vargas reported many big billboards were still up along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Pasay, Mandaluyong and Makati Cities. Several billboards advertising food and clothing products were still up particularly in the Estrella and Guadalupe areas in Makati City, the report said. Outdoor advertisers were under fire in 2006 when several billboards collapsed in the wake of Typhoon Milenyo, destroying property and threatening lives. The super typhoon knocked down at least 30 billboards in Metro Manila alone. At the Estrella area in Makati City, a falling billboard crushed a driver on an Asian utility vehicle as well as a passenger bus. The extent of Milenyo’s damages prompted Sen. Miriam Santiago to push for a ban on billboards. Meanwhile, the Metro Manila police office has mobilized its “Libreng Sakay" to help commuters who may be stranded due to flash floods. In Marikina City, rescue teams were placed on standby. - GMANews.TV