Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. has filed a resolution seeking to look into the proliferation of large-scale billboards in major thoroughfares as they may pose dangers to road users.

In Senate Resolution No. 924, Revilla said that LED billboards cause distractions to people traversing the roads because of glaring lights, as do motion billboards. He also raised a question on the structural integrity of these kinds of billboards which are very prone to accidents during calamities.

“Kailangang matiyak ang kaligtasan ng mga motorista sa mga kapahamakang maaaring maging dulot ng mga naglalakihang billboards. Lubhang nakakaabala ng atensyon ang mga ito lalo na ‘yung mga nakakasilaw na posibleng mag-dulot ng aksidente sa kalsada sa mga maaaring ma-distract dito (We have to ensure the safety of motorists from dangers that may come from big billboards. These greatly hampers the attention especially the glaring ones that may cause road accidents to those who can get distracted),” Revilla said.

“Hindi lamang ito maituturing na driving distraction and hazard, dagdag pa sa pangamba natin ‘yung structural stability ng mga ‘yan kapag humahampas ang malalakas na bagyo. Ang higit na nakakatakot ay kapag nagkakaroon ng mga lindol. (These are not mere driving distractions or hazards, but their structural integrity is also a concern when there are strong storms. What's more terrifying is when there are earthquakes) These nuisances may even exacerbate the situation and turn it into a disaster. That is exactly what we want to avoid,” he added.

Revilla also recalled that on March 2022, Executive Order (EO) No. 165 was issued to prescribe regulations on out-of-home advertising signs and billboards, cognizant of the fact that “unregulated advertising signs and billboards pose traffic distractions and hazards and constitute threats to public safety.”

The senators, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Works said that the deadline for billboard owners and operators to comply with the regulations is set in March 2024, two years after the issuance of the EO.

“Malapit na ang deadline na itinakda ng EO. Kailangan nang suriin kung sumunod na ba sa mga batayan at standards ang mga billboard owners and operators. At nararapat lamang na panagutin ‘yung mga hanggang ngayon ay nagmamatigas pa rin to the detriment of the general public (The EO's deadline is near. It must be examined if billboard owners and operators followed the proper standards),” Revilla explained.

The lawmaker will soon be calling for a public hearing of the Committee on Public works to tackle the resolution.

“Isasalang agad natin yan sa pagdinig ng kumite para malaman natin kung sumunod ba ang mga operator at may ari ng mga billboard. At hangad din natin na mapaigting ang ating mga batas ukol sa pag-regulate ng ganitong klase ng advertisements (We will immediately conduct a committee hearing to know if these billboard operators followed. We are also looking to strengthen the law on regulating this type of advertisement),” he said.