Council panel to summon DPWH execs over highway billboards

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

THE city council’s ways and means committee on Wednesday said it would summon officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways so it could answer why it has allowed billboards to mushroom on the highway from Iponan to Bugo.

Councilor George Goking, the committee’s chair, said this after a representative of the Office of the Building Official estimated that there were at least 80 huge billboards without structural and building permits along the highway.

Engr. Gualberto Daaca of OBO, told the committee that the highway is the jurisdiction of the DPWH.

Daaca said OBO has repeatedly been asking the DPWH regional office to submit its list of billboards on the highway. He said OBO has made its own count but its list has to be reconciled with the DPWH’s.

“Subo kaayo sa among part kay ang uban along the national highway have no structural and building permits. Annually, ga-collect kami og signage permit from those that have been recorded. Ang uban nga na-install wala gyu’y permit,” he said.

Councilor  Reuben Daba complained that he has long been asking for DPWH’s and OBO’s lists but they did not submit any.

Daba also complained that the huge billboards have become an eyesore.

“Bisan gani langgam nga galupad-lupad maglisod na kita og pangita kay puro naman lang billboard ang makita bisan asa apil pa gani ang mga walkway along the national highway. DPWH has the national law nga bawal gyud kini,” he said.