VECO starts removal of "redundant" poles

CEBU, Philippines - The removal of about 1,000 so-called redundant electric poles will be a priority project of the Visayan Electric Company, Inc. this year, said VECO spokesperson Ethel Natera.

Natera said VECO started removing redundant poles or unnecessary poles since last month starting in barangay Banilad. 

VECO initiated the project after the City Council passed a resolution in October last year mandating all power and communication companies such as VECO, PLDT, Islacom, Sky Cable to use only one pole in a specific location.

The City Council passed the resolution after numerous redundant poles were sited in several areas in the city. The council said these redundant poles have caused inconvenience to pedestrians.

Before removing their redundant poles, Valentin Saludes, VECO assistant vice president for engineering group, had requested other utility companies to remove their cables and lines from VECO poles.

The VECO starts clearing Cebu City’s streets of unnecessary poles as it also asked other utility companies for the removal of their cables and lines attached to their poles.

Natera said all cables and lines found still attached to VECO-owned poles during the removal schedule will be attached and temporarily tied to a portion of a temporary pole, until such time that the other utilities have fully transferred all their cable attachments. 

Engineer Jeffrey Belotindos of VECO's Street Lighting and Pole Attachment Department said they led the project since about 80 percent of poles in the city are owned by VECO.

“VECO has to do this, otherwise we will never be able to remove redundant poles,” Natera said. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)