Bong Revilla seeks probe into laws regulating billboards

Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. filed a resolution asking the Senate Committee on Public Works to investigate the proliferation of billboards on major thoroughfares.

Revilla, chairman of the panel, sought the probe through proposed Senate Resolution 924 to update and/or consolidate existing laws and regulations towards safer and sustainable roads for the riding public and pedestrians.

"There is a need for an intensified implementation of applicable laws and regulations covering the construction, operation, maintenance, and monitoring of billboards in the country," Revilla said in his resolution.

While there is no data yet on the number of accidents attributable to billboards as it is lumped under the violation of distracted driving, Revilla said anecdotal evidence suggested that billboards were a distraction while driving, especially because of the light coming from them and even its content.

"Not only do light-emitting diode (LED) billboards cause distractions to people traversing the roads because of glaring lights; but more so do motion billboards. There is also a question of stability that is posed by these kinds of billboards which are more prone to accidents during calamities," he said.

Further, the senator noted that the geographical location of the Philippines makes it vulnerable to natural calamities such as typhoons and earthquakes, the destructive effects of which may exacerbated by the failure to comply with safety standards and guidelines.

Presidential Decree 1096, or the National Building Code, states that "no sign or billboard shall be constructed as to unduly obstruct the natural view of the landscape, distract or obstruct the view of the public as to constitute a traffic hazard, or otherwise defile, debase, or offend aesthetic and cultural values and traditions."

In March 2022, Executive Order No. 165 was issued as "unregulated advertising signs and billboards pose traffic distractions and hazards, constitute threats to public safety and contribute to environmental degradation and urban blight due to their inappropriate site, glare, size, structural configuration, and uncontrolled height limit."

With the deadline set by EO No. 165 drawing near, Revilla said it was only proper to determine whether billboard owners and operators complied with the standards set in the measure. — DVM, GMA Integrated News