Drilon questions proliferation of billboards at airports

Senate President Franklin Drilon questioned Thursday the proliferation of advertisements and billboards in the different airports across the country and whether the government is earning from them.

 

“Our airport terminals look like EDSA with billboards all over the place. Why is that? How much income do we get from that and where does it go?” Drilon asked during the Senate hearing on the P49.3-billion proposed 2016 budget of the Department of Transportation and Communications.

 

“Who authorizes the placement of billboards? Why is there such policy? Kulang ba ang pera natin kaya naghahanap ng paraan para sa additional income? How much income is realized and where does it go?” he repeatedly asked.

 

William Hotchkiss III, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, said the billboards where already there when he assumed office but Drilon pressed on.

 

“Hindi naman yan perpetual lease, that is renewable. Hindi puwedeng sabihin na inabutan na namin yan. These are commercial billboards,” the Senate president said.

 

He said some private individuals may be profiting from the advertising at the expense of the government.

 

“Those using these billboards are concessionaires. Ang nagbebenta ng espasyo ay concessionaire. Pinagkakakitaan ng concessionaires ang property ng pamahalaan. Noong eleksyon e may political billboards pa akong nakita sa terminal. I know that you have concessionaires who would sell these spaces. I want to know how much income you realize for the rental,” Drilon said.

 

Hotchkiss said they got P101 million in 2014 and they expect to receive P102 million in 2015.

 

“The money is used to maintain, operate, and improve the terminals,” he said.

 

But Drilon said he believed the government has been shortchanged with the set up saying it could also be a source of graft and corruption because a lot of discretion on the part of airport officials is involved.

 

He said the leases did not even undergo a bidding process.

 

“Either we correct the income or remove this kind of practice in the airport. You don’t even bid this out, I suppose. They are renting spaces from you and they rent it out. They turn around and make money. Hindi ko bibitiwan ang issue na ito,” said Drilon. 

 

“Let us make sure the government gets the correct revenues rather than somebody making money out of the assets that we have,” he added as he asked CAAP for a report on the billboards. 

 

DOTC Secretary Joseph Abaya agreed that there should be a review on the matter.

 

“I fully agree with the Senate President. We will review the policy. Probably it is an old EO (executive order) that exists. This is not to prohibit but to standardize (the practice) to make sure that no one makes money out of laway,” he said.

 

Abaya said they will also talk with their airport operators.

 

Drilon said the billboards have become an eyesore.

 

“Sa ibang bansa wala naman akong nakikitang billboards na umaapaw sa terminal e,” he said.  — JDS, GMA News