MANILA, Philippines – With the 2019 campaign period for national candidates in full swing, government workers have started taking down illegal campaign posters obstructing roads and national highways.

Government workers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Metro Manila Development Authority, Philippine National Police, and Commission on Elections (Comelec) launched the Baklas Billboard Program on Thursday night, February 28. 

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said the nationwide program aims to prevent danger to lives and properties by taking down candidates’ tarpaulins and election materials that were illegally put up along major thoroughfares. (READ: #PHVote: Campaign rules for 2019 midterm elections)

According to the DPWH, employees from its Northern Mindanao office removed over 1,000 campaign materials that were “right of way encroachments,” as defined in Presidential Decree Nos. 1096 and 17.

DPWH Central Luzon said it also started taking down illegal campaign materials. It denied reports that DPWH workers were supposedly seen installing campaign materials.

– Rappler.com