Secretary's Corner
HON.
HERMOGENES EDEJER EBDANE, JR.
Message:
CONSULTATIVE MEETING ON SIGNS AND SIGNBOARD STRUCTURES
01 August 2007 - AFPCOC
Good morning to everyone.
I hope you are as happy to see me
as I am to see all of you again. And I hope you are all
ready to get to work this morning, and answer the questions that
must be asked.
It has been quite some time since
I last discussed this urgent matter with you. I
congratulate everyone for the work that has already been
accomplished.
My inspection trips in various
areas in the last four weeks have confirmed that my instructions
were implemented fully and properly.
But I know for a fact that at
present there are still more than 6,400 illegal signs and
signboards that need to be dismantled, some even re-dismantled.
It is with much urgency,
therefore, that we meet this morning.
We are here to address the
stumbling blocks that deter full compliance with the President's
orders to eliminate this hazard with finality.
Last year, at the height of the
public outcry for immediate action, the DPWH took the lead in
responding to the requirement. The momentum was enough to
result in quick results that were felt nationwide.
Now, we must take the opportunity
to prevent any further loss of life or property from
non-fulfillment of our collective responsibility to tear down
these illegal structures, and accomplish the job that has been
left unfinished.
I know there are issues, and we
are here to listen to what has been done, as well as what else
we need to do to get the job done.
More importantly, we must agree to
one objective for this meeting: to reach a consensus on actions,
deadlines and accountabilities before we part ways.
We have proven that together we
can get the job done before. It is time to prove that we
have learned our lessons from the first run, and can now finish
what we have started.
I will count on three things from
all concerned: strict compliance, disciplined implementation and
single-minded determination.
With all these in play, I am sure
we will get the job done, finally.
Thank you and mabuhay tayong lahat.
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