Firing the opening salvo, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) removed on Wednesday at least six project billboards bearing the names and pictures of politicians in Metro Manila.

DPWH Director Edilberto Tayao for National Capital Region said those dismantled were project billboards located along Katipunan to Congressional Avenue in Quezon City, and along Circumferential Road 5 (C-5).

Tayao said he took the cue from Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson who issued Department Order 37, banning billboards of DPWH infrastructure projects nationwide.

“Sanctions may be imposed on our field officials who will not comply with the new rules and regulations,” he said in an interview.

Most of these billboards were road projects that displayed the name and image of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The credit was given to her since the road construction started during her administration.

As this developed, the DPWH-NCR reported that it removed the steel frames of some 328 illegal billboards placed on top and in between Light Railway Transit (LRT) and Metro Railway Transit (MRT) stations.

Tayao said these were shampoo and soft drink advertising posters erected along sidewall, beams, and girder faces of MRT/LRT track lines and on the rooftop, wall, and sidings of the train stations.

The DPWH has already revised the implementing guidelines on DPWH signboard structures that project billboards should only contain the name of the project and location, contractor, the date when it started, and the project's completion.

Also included in the billboards are the details on the contract cost, name of construction consultant, and the source of fund.

“They shall be installed in all project sites by the concerned implementing offices of DPWH for the information and guidance of the taxpaying public,” Singson said.

The DPWH standard billboard measures 4 x 8 feet using half an inch marine plywood or tarpaulin posted on 3/16 inch marine plywood that are installed at the beginning and end of roads, bridges, and flood control projects and in front of building project sites.

For road projects with length of 10 kilometers or more, billboard are required to be installed at every 5 kilometers interval.