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In QC, pols’ banners are banned – but how about the mayor's?


The Quezon City government is reminding the public that there is a 20-year-old ordinance banning the display of any material promoting a politician, and has been tearing down billboards and banners with a political color since last September. But the campaign seems to be exempting the mayor, Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr., and his politician-daughter Joy Belmonte-Alimurong, whose Christimas season banners show their names and faces to passing city residents and motorists.

A large holiday banner hangs on the facade of the Quezon City hall, with the words "Happy holidays for a Joyful and Blissful New year." Noticeable on the banner was the prominence of the letters J, O, Y, and B. Nikka Corsino
One large holiday banner hung on the facade of the Quezon City hall, with the words "Happy holidays for a Joyful and Blissful New year." Noticeable on the banner was the prominence of the letters J, O, Y, and B. But the irony seems to have escaped the notice of Tadeo Palma, Quezon City Secretary to the Mayor, who spoke to GMANews.TV. Asked why some banners with holiday greetings of politicians, including his boss, remain on display along several roads in Quezon City and on the facade of QC's city hall, Palma said their two-week-old campaign is not finished yet. “Every street in Quezon City must be free from these signs. But due to lack of manpower, we have settled for the major roads for now," Palma said, adding that they have installed billboards along major QC roads warning the public against posting propaganda materials. Palma did not mention, however, a fact that is obvious to city residents: that these large billboards also display the letters “S" and “B" (for “serbisyong bayan") in prominent red fonts. “SB" are also the initials of Mayor Sonny Belmonte. Ordinance No. NC-153, S-90, enacted on June 6, 1990, prohibits the display of streamers, stickers, decals, pamphlets, tin plates, cardboards, billboards, or other paraphernalia that advertise business or professional services or similar activities on electric posts, or other public utilities such as bridges and overpasses. “This includes even greetings from candidates," Palma told GMANews.TV. “If you are a declared candidate, anything you post in public will be considered propaganda." Last September 2009, Mayor Belmonte issued a memorandum to the local government ordering the removal of propaganda materials near or on electrical wires before October. Despite the dismantling of banners in September, new political banners have appeared after the filing of certificates of candidacy on November 30, Palma said. This led the city government to launch a new campaign in late December against what it calls “political" banners and billboards.
Motorists are greeted with a holiday banner from Quezon City mayor Feliciano Belmonte and his daughter Joy Belmonte near the city hall. Nikka Corsino
Commonwealth Avenue, Quirino Highway, Mindanao Avenue, C.P. Garcia, and Visayas Avenue are among the areas already cleaned up by the city council, according to Palma. Streets where political banners could still be seen include Timog Avenue, Tomas Morato Avenue, Roces Avenue, and Kalayaan Avenue. Palma did not say if legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted against the individuals who put up the said political banners. The city ordinance penalizes violators with not less than P1,000 or at least 30 days imprisonment. The ordinance does not exempt the sitting mayor and his family members. – JV, GMANews.TV
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