Makati Mayor Abby Binay apologized on Friday for the controversial street signs that altered Gil Puyat Avenue’s name to “Gil Tulog Avenue” as part of a promotional campaign.
The Makati Mayor announced in her statement that the signs for Gil Tulog Ave., which had temporarily replaced those for Gil Puyat Ave. due to an advertising campaign, they have been restored to their original state.
She expressed that the permit request in changing the sign did not reach her office. “Kung dumaan sa akin ‘yan, rejected ‘yan agad,” she said.
The mayor reprimanded the city officials who approved the permit, indicating they “should have exercised prudence” and “should have been more thorough.”
“Dapat inisip ang kaguluhan na maaaring idulot sa mga motorista at komyuter,” Binay stated. “At dapat ay binigyang halaga ang respeto sa pamilya at sa alaala ni dating Senate President Gil Puyat.”
Photos and videos showing altered street signs, part of a marketing stunt for a sleep supplement, went viral on social media on Thursday. The stunt received mixed reactions; some found it amusing, while others saw it as disrespectful to the late senator.
Binay issued an apology to the public and the Puyat family, “Humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa ating mga kababayan at sa pamilya ni dating Senate President Puyat. These signs have been taken down on my instruction,” she said.
Gil Puyat, who was a Philippine senator from 1951 to 1973 and served as Senate president for six years, passed away in 1980. A major road in Makati is named after him.