Recently, the government rolled out new signage guidelines in the Philippines to improve the quality of life for road users everywhere. However, given the new regulations, advertising companies must rethink their billboard’s design and layout to ensure maximum effectiveness.
We’ve made a guide to help you understand what the new billboard guidelines entail and how you can augment your marketing strategy to adhere to these changes.
What is Executive Order No. 165?
In 2022, Former President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 165. This EO enhanced the Building Code regulations by combining national and local billboard advertising rules in the Philippines. Advertising providers were forced to rehabilitate, modify, and alter their built structures to adhere to the law. Unless they want to suffer the consequences of getting fined.
Now, you may be wondering why EO No. 165 was made. It’s because unregulated billboards can cause damage to the public due to glare, size, and structural configuration. Indeed, this order cracked down on unsafe marketing materials. The government has even started prohibiting billboards that are harmful to aesthetics, cultural values, and traditions.
Additionally, the Philippine government has also made a list of billboard-free zones to preserve the aesthetic of certain areas:
- Tourist destinations and parks
- Historical sites
- Institutional establishments
- Critical facilities (ex. water treatment centers, hospitals, and power plants)
What are the guidelines for outdoor signs?
According to the new billboard law in the Philippines, billboard structures must be set back at least five meters from the front of the property line. It must also adhere to an approved structural design, wind load exposure, and placement (that it does not obstruct public utilities and fire exits) to guarantee the safety of the public.
The government has also imposed a limit to outdoor signages so that these do not exceed 250 sqm. Additionally, it can only have a maximum height of 36 meters for rural areas and 26 meters for urban areas.
What are the guidelines for LED signs?
Given the rise of LED signages in high-traffic areas such as EDSA, Bonifacio Global City, and San Juan, the government has imposed regulations for this type of marketing material.
LED billboards with a setback of less than five meters must now adhere to the billboard guidelines for height and size guidelines for their display surfaces. Proprietors of these types of billboards must also secure a clearance from high-tension wires as prescribed by the Philippine Electrical Code.
Additionally, due to EO No. 165, the minimum display area of an LED billboard is now 55 sqm and the maximum display area is 250 sqm.
What do these new regulations mean for billboard advertising in the Philippines?
Now that EO No. 165 is fully implemented, billboard advertising companies must learn to be smarter in creating layouts for their tarpaulins. Now that billboards are situated five meters farther from where they previously were, you and your team will need to rethink your creative strategies to keep your marketing material standing out from the rest.
Companies take on the challenge of reassessing printing formats for marketing materials and creating well-designed tarpaulins to adhere to this order.
Printing billboards that comply with the law
These new billboard guidelines are changing the way marketing teams operate and print their materials. You’ll need to reorient your creative team to ensure that your company’s materials comply with these laws. But of course, it’s not easy to get these measurements down and one mistake can be very costly.
To avoid these mistakes, why not work with an experienced printing company? Limkaco has over ten years of experience in the sign manufacturing business, so we know exactly what you need to make your tarpaulin stand out while complying with the law.
Reach out to us today to experience our first-rate service!