Pols barred from putting names, pictures on project billboards

The government has barred politicians from putting their names and pictures on billboards of infrastructure projects. Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson issued Department Order 37 directing the Regional, District Engineering and Project Management offices of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to follow the revised Standard Project Billboard format banning the use of name or image of any personalities, including the president, in project billboards. Singson said the revised design is in accordance with President Benigno Aquino III's instruction to all government agencies not to use his name or image on any government program or project. (See: Aquino to agencies: Don't put my name or pic on your projects) Under the DPWH modified format, project billboards should only contain the name and location of project, name of contractor, the date the project started, contract completion date, contract cost, construction consultant, implementing office of the DPWH, and source of fund. Singson said this is for the information and guidance of the taxpaying public. A standard billboard should measure 4 feet x 8 feet using 1/2-inch marine plywood or tarpaulin posted on 3/16-inch marine plywood. It should be installed at the beginning and end of road, bridge and flood control projects, and in front of project site for building projects like school building, multi-purpose center, and government offices. For road projects with length of 10 kilometers or more, billboards are required to be installed at every 5-kilometer interval. Escudero, Santiago bills In the Senate, a bill seeking to criminalize the naming of government projects after public officials and persons associated with them, has been filed by Senator Francis “Chiz" Escudero. Escudero, in filing Senate Bill No. 2187, said naming projects such as waiting sheds, ambulances and even trash bins after politicians “falsely gives an inflated sense of accomplishment to public officials to their constituency." He said nobody should lay claim on public funds and freely spend it for their “personal and political vanity." Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, meanwhile, has also refiled Senate Bill No. 1967, which seeks to penalize the act of affixing the name or image of any public official to a signage announcing a proposed or ongoing public works project. — KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV