An ordinance regulating the installation, repair, construction, and renovation of signages/billboards in Davao City has been passed by the city council.
The Signage Ordinance, pushed by the Office of the Building Official (OBO) and passed in the council through Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, aims to continue the cleanliness of the roads, safety of the motorists, and protect the sides of the bridge to possible collapse in case of flooding/natural disaster.
“Na-aprubahan na ang ordinance regulating the construction and repair and renovation of advertisement assembly installation of signages. Itong signages minsan pag nag-drive ka parang magulo na and I think if you are in Edsa ang lalaki ng mga advertisements at parang hindi na regulated especially pag malapit na sa mga bridges and there is danger na kapag malakas ang ulan baka mag-collapse kasi karamihan diya pag nakalagay na advertisement baka hindi na nami-maintain,” Dayanghirang explained.
Under the said ordinance the city is allowing advertisement assembly to be installed in regulated areas.
“What are regulated areas? Ito ang distance from bridges, hindi maging obstruction dahil sa dami ng advertisements it might endanger while you’re driving. Lahat ng ito ay public safety at dapat hindi cluttered at dapat malinis. With this ordinance magka-karoon na ng order. Ibig sabihin pagdating mo sa city maaliwalas at malinis,” he said.
The ordinance was sponsored by Dayanghirang along with Councilors Mabel Sunga-Acosta and Jake Quitain.
“Kalimpyo sa panan-aw ug luwas sa sa kinatibuk-an nga dili pag balda sa pagdagan sa ekonomiya sa dakabayan. Sayod kita nga ug maapektuhan ang mga tulay dako kaayo ug perwesyo sa taga Davao,” Dayanghirang said.
It can be recalled that Engr. Cirinia Grace Catubig, officer-in-charge of the Office of the City Building Official (OCBO), disclosed to the City Council that some advertising billboard owners are non-compliant to the required height standard for billboards in Davao City the reason why OCBO recommended for the approval of the amendment of some of the provisions of the city’s ordinance on the construction and regulation of billboards in the city.
Catubig said there is a need to amend the said ordinance because some of the owners did not follow the standard height requirement of 25 meters as they installed billboards as high as 30 meters.
In March last year, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio issued Executive Order No.7 Series of 2020 temporarily suspending the issuance of new building permit on sign structures, sign permit on display signs and the renewal/extension of permits on all free-standing/stand-alone signs within Davao City. The EO emphasized there is a need to strictly implement the provisions of Davao City Ordinance No. 092 which prohibits the construction of sign and signboard which unduly obstruct the natural view of the scenic landscape including Mt. Apo and Davao Gulf as well as the placing of sign stands on sidewalk pavements, parks and street islands, signs which confuse or obstruct the view or interpretation of any public sign or device, obstruct the sight, distract the attention of motorists, reflect blinding light or cause glare to incoming traffic, construction in residential zones and other restricted areas.
In September last year, the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) dismantled all high billboard structures along Bankerohan, Sandawa Road and Bolton Bridge as the city government enforced Ordinance No. 092-2000 that prohibits the obstruction of view to the majestic Mt. Apo and the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS).
