QC official to go after billboard operators

A RANKING official of the Quezon City government has threatened to file criminal charges against the operators of some 600 billboards along the city’s main roads whom he said lack the necessary permits in violation of the National Building Code.

Isagani Versoza, city building official, warned these billboard operators that he would not hesitate to sue them should they be found operating without a permit.
About 600 outdoor billboards have thrived along the city’s major roads despite a moratorium that froze the issuance of permit to erect and install the structures, he said.
“After a thorough evaluation, we would file charges against erring billboard operators,” he told the Manila Standard.
He said he has fielded his men to inspect 600 billboards along major roads—-Quezon Avenue, Edsa, Commonwealth Avenue, East Avenue, West Avenue, E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, and Elliptical Road.
“We believe all of those outdoor billboards do not have permits because of the moratorium. Still, we would want to give them the due process to come over to our office and explain,” he noted.
He raised concerns over the dangers posed by oversized billboards and those encroaching the road’s 10-meter setback requirement. Rio N. Araja