Nearly 9,000 illegal bill boards heading for demolition,

Hot on the heals of the thumbs down from to the Panama’s new municipal tax plan the Ministry of Public Works(MOP) has hit the city in the pocket book, by ordering the removal of illegally sited bill boards.

There are nearly 9,000 across the country, many of them in Panama city that have proved a cash cow for the municipal treasury.

If the signs without the appropriate government approval  have not been removed within the time frame set by the Government there could be fines of up to $100,000 and they will be removed and demolished by the Ministry of Public Works (MOP).

 MOP Minister Federico José Suárez said that a census conducted in late 2009 identified 8,800 illegal billboards in the country, and he intends to reduce visual pollution.

People in the billboard business have reacted strongly claiming that the new regulations were not consensual, and that business may suffer.

But many citizens have applauded the move, as  Panama streets have been increasingly disfigured by multiple advertising signs.

The bill board owners have been given 90 days to remove them. Start counting.