AS part of its routine clearing operations along the city’s major thoroughfares, the Quezon City Law and Order Cluster has started removing advertisements, posters, and stickers posted in public areas and non-authorized common poster areas as designated by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
On the first day of the operation, the Law and Order Cluster has taken down at least 20,000 advertisements in unauthorized areas and plans to clear all QC roadways in the coming days.
Advertisements such as streamers, product posters, signboards, printed notices, decals, stickers, and political propaganda are among the materials removed during the operations.
“Lahat ng mga nakapaskil sa mga pampublikong lugar tulad ng terminal, poste ng kuryente, nakasabit sa kawad ng kuryente, tulay, at nakadikit sa mga puno, at streetlights ay tinatanggal namin. Kahit sino pa ang nasa poster, basta nakadikit sa public property at non-common poster area ng COMELEC, aalisin namin dahil ‘yun ang nasa batas,” City Law and Order Cluster Action Officer Elmo DG. San Diego said.
According to San Diego, the conduct of the operations is pursuant to City Ordinances SP-3044-2021, SP-2109-2011, SP-2021-2010, NC-153-90, and Republic Act 3571.
As stated in the said ordinances and law, the exhibition of ads in public areas, and unauthorized display of tarpaulins are prohibited. Injuring or damaging trees by posting stickers and ad paraphernalia is also not allowed, as mandated by RA 3571.
Over 600 law and order cluster personnel went around the major roads of the city’s six districts to remove all ads in public places and non-designated poster areas.
On March 3, the city put up a public announcement that the city will conduct a clearing operations on illegal outdoor media advertisements.
“Ang clearing operations natin ay hindi lang para sa mga tarpaulin, kundi pati na rin sa obstructions na ilegal na nakahambalang sa sidewalks natin na nakakaapekto sa mga mamamayan at pedestrian. Tuluy-tuloy ito hanggang sa mga susunod na linggo,” San Diego added.
