Office of Public Lands cracks down on illegally-placed signboards, banners

To further prevent the clutter of banners and avoid potential driving hazards, the Office of Public Lands will be removing any banner or signboard erected on public land– including many along public roads–without the proper authorization.

“We want to correct this problem before it gets out of hand,” Public Lands Administrator Bertha C. Leon Guerrero said. “There are many businesses, organizations, and individuals who are placing their advertisements on public lands without authorization.”

The Office of Public Lands has noticed an increased number of banners and other advertisement along public roads and other public lands. Because of the adverse affects the clutter of signs presents to the public, Mr. Leon Guerrero has directed her staff to physically remove, by Dec. 20, 2000, all signs that are not permitted to be placed on public land.

The clutter of these banners, according to Ms. Leon Guerrero, presents two major problems.

First, the signs potentially create a safety hazard for drivers because of the placement of some of the signs. Some are placed beside traffic lights and yet some others are placed alongside the street in such a way that the signboard obstructs a driver’s view of traffic.

The other problem that the clutter of banner presents is that it destroys the attractiveness and aesthetics of the drive along beach road and many other public locations.

“It’s simply unattractive to drive along Beach Road and see all those signs,” Ms. Leon Guerrero said.

According to Ms. Leon Guerrero, those who wish to erect a signboard of any kind on public land must submit a written request to the Office of Public Lands. After that, the request is forwarded to the Department of Public Works, the Department of Public Safety, and the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation so that those agencies can indicate whether the placement of a particular sign will obstruct drivers, hinder public projects, or impede other future uses of a certain site.

“We are working very closely with all these agencies to ensure that signboards are placed at the most appropriate locations,” she said. “There are many companies who have also obtained the appropriate permits and it is not fair for them if others irresponsibly place their signs anywhere they please.”