"Offensive & indecent" billboards ordered removed by MMDA

**chua_riwap** · July 12th, 2011 06:45 AM

dapat lahat na ng billboards tanggalin na sa edsa.
aba eh, parang magazine na yung edsa sa dami ng ads.

MMDA removes more 'offensive' billboards along EDSA » Nation » Article

MANILA, Philippines - Following last week’s removal of billboards along EDSA that featured seven members of the country’s rugby team, the Philippine Volcanoes, clad only in their briefs, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday removed more billboards not only for allegedly being “offensive” but also for violating the National Building Code.

Yesterday morning, MMDA personnel took down the billboards of actresses Angel Locsin and Anne Curtis in ***y attire along EDSA near Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong. Similar billboards along EDSA near the TriNoma mall and in Pasay City were also taken down, the MMDA said.

The MMDA said although the billboards may be interpreted as “offensive” or “indecent” by some motorists passing through EDSA, these were taken down for violating the size requirements of the National Building Code and for being installed without the proper approval of the concerned local government units.

Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian complained to Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos about the billboards that featured the Philippine Volcanoes and were installed near the Guadalupe Bridge. The billboards were taken down after Abalos talked with the advertiser about it.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, however, said the Volcanoes’ billboards were taken down not only because of their “offensive” content but also because they violated billboard size restrictions and easement guideline, which states that a billboard should be located at least 10 meters away from the Pasig River.

Last Sunday, the MMDA announced that it has formed a committee to look into the content of billboards along EDSA. Tolentino said the task force will be headed by Marikina Mayor Del de Guzman with Fr. Roderick Castro, the parish priest of the National Shrine of the Our Lady of Guadalupe, and MMDA Assistant General Manager for Planning and spokesperson Tina Velasco as members.

Tolentino said the committee will reiterate the existing Advertising Board of the Philippines (AdBoard) code of ethics that promotes good values, moral responsibility, decency, and courtesy.

At present, billboard contents are regulated by the AdBoard while the MMDA is the agency tasked to make sure that billboards along EDSA comply with the requirements of the National Building Code.

Tolentino said the MMDA will still recognize the advertising industry’s self-regulation “but the government has to protect the public morals.”

According to the MMDA, there are at least 2,000 billboards along EDSA with many of these installed in Makati City, Pasay City, Quezon City and Mandaluyong City.

**niky** · July 12th, 2011 03:05 PM

While I'm all for freedom of speech and actually find no issues with news-stands selling FHM and Playboy or theaters playing R-rated or even X-rated movies, a lot of the billboards are in poor taste.

We have freedom to express and view our ***uality, but not to impose them upon the public at large... so I really don't have a problem with this move by the MMDA. This is no different from the minimum dress code that's in law.

**_Cathy_** · July 12th, 2011 03:17 PM

It's about time. I thought they already banned large billboards after what happened during Milenyo.

The huge TV along EDSA guadalupe southbound is also distracting.

**_Cathy_** · July 12th, 2011 03:38 PM

It's about time. I thought they already banned large billboards after what happened during Milenyo.

The huge TV along EDSA guadalupe southbound is also distracting.

**chua_riwap** · July 12th, 2011 03:54 PM

marami na 'kong napuntahan na foreign countries, sa atin lang may ganito.
tadtad ng giant ads ang mga main thoroughfares.......

**JackFlash** · July 12th, 2011 04:35 PM

I agree that the proliferation of billboards along EDSA has become an eyesore. Dapat lang tanggalin - whether ***ual or not. There's just too many of them and they're spoiling the already deteriorating skyline.

And it all started with the Bench underwear billboards featuring the Volcanoes. Kawawa naman yung team, to think that they've been making a mark on the international rugby secene. Imbes na makilala yung mga players, nakinabang sa publicity ang Bench.

**niky** · July 12th, 2011 05:14 PM

Yeah... the TV should go, too. Waaaaaay to distracting at night.

I wonder whose blockhead idea it was to blind motorists at night with a blazing bright TV display?!?