Demolition of billboards to last 2 months - DPWH

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Monday it would need two more months to dismantle all hazardous billboards around the country. Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane issued the statement as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the dismantling of shanties and other illegal structures along creeks and rivers around the country. Ebdane said 42 billboards have been dismantled following the destruction wrought by typhoon Milenyo last September 28. About 40 billboards fell in the Philippine capital and nearby provinces, including one in Makati City which fatally crushed a driver of an Asian utility vehicle. A total of 18 billboards, meanwhile, are currently being demolished by DPWH personnel. "At the rate we are going, mga two months siguro (maybe we'll need two more months)," said Ebdane as he accompanied Mrs Arroyo in inspecting billboard demolition works along Taft Avenue in Pasay City. Of the 2,161 billboards in Metro Manila, nearly half or 1,072 were built in Quezon City. Ebdane refused to say how many billboards need to be demolished. DPWH engineers have already "assessed" 435 outdoor commercial advertisement structures, he said. Meanwhile, President Arroyo ordered the DPWH to dismantle not only hazardous billboards but all illegal structures along creeks and rivers. The order covers shanties of informal settlers who have grown massive colonies along urban water pathways. "We are trying to look at the whole perspective, we cannot go [about the problem by] piece 'meal,'" Ebdane said. Palace officials said removing the illegal structures would prevent the recurring problem of clogging and subsequent flashfoods when the rainy months come. The DPWH will ask for the assistance of local officials and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority for this effort. Ebdane did not say where the displaced dwellers would eventually be relocated. He said the government will check if the settlers' property titles were still valid and if local city officials granted them construction permits.-GMANews.TV