Staff reporter
San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Ilocos Norte 2nd Engineering District will strictly a new order banning photos and names of persons on signages of government infrastructure projects.
The restriction stems from DPWH Dept. Order 21 series of 2017 signed by DPWH Sec. Mark A. Villar.
DPWH 2nd district engineer Mathias Malenab made this announcement during a Sangguniang Panlalawigan regular session. DPWH’s 1st Engineering District also attended the said session.
Mr. Malenab stressed that they will no longer allow pictures and names of any person to appear on DPWH billboards.
He added that they have also disallowed DPWH contractors to place names of any politician on their equipment.
The DPWH order also stated the billboard design layout, dimension and letter sizes on white background.
In view of this, they will replace all existing billboards of ongoing projects.
The district 2 engineer also said that each road, bridge, and flood control projects shall have only two billboards each; installed at every 5-kilometer interval. He added that they also restrict billboards within 100 meters of all DPWH projects, in between project limits, or within the road right-of-way.
He further disclosed that this order supersedes Department Order No. 141 series of 2016.
Meanwhile, Mr. Malenab said major infrastructure projects of the province’s second engineering district this year are flood control projects in Paoay and Batac City.
He said they did not receive funding for bridge construction and road widening projects for this year.
As for school building, the district engineer said they are still waiting for the release of funds while they complete school buildings from last year.