Telcos asked to remove poles and lines

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has ordered all telecommunication companies to remove their poles and line constructions along Osmeña Boulevard.

Rama issued the directive because the telecom firms allegedly did not heed the request of the Visayan Electric Company (VECO) to remove or transfer the lines and utilities to reconfigure overhead lines.

VECO is undertaking a reconfiguration project of overhead lines to underground distribution system, which intends to eliminate aerial obstructions particularly "spaghetti wires," defined as loose and disorganized overhead wirings.

The beautification and rehabilitation project of the power supplier is pursuant to City Ordinance No. 1894, which aims to "regulate a utility setup that would be safe, secure and aesthetically pleasing for the Cebu City Constituents."

Rama wants the project completed by October.

For the project to be finished on time, Eric Ching, VECO's Community Relations Manager, said the poles and line constructions must be removed before August this year. Ching raised VECO's concern to Rama personally yesterday.

Ching said letters were sent to the telecom companies since last year, but no action was made. The underground transmission system project commenced last August 13, 2013.

"Our worries are regarding the telecommunication companies because until now they don't have any move yet. They are telling us nga i-divert ang lines kay dili man sila makasabay sa distribution line underground," Ching told The Freeman.

"We would like to reiterate that our main end here is to remove all poles and attachments along the said areas in compliance with the City Ordinance," VECO's letter reads.

The Beautiful Cebu Movement Foundation, Inc., the group that helmed the sprucing up of Osmeña Boulevard, echoed Rama's call.

"We are very thankful and very appreciative that VECO delivered what they promised to the Beautiful Cebu Movement Foundation Inc. I think the telephone companies should also do their participation by helping us beautifying our city by transferring their spaghetti wires," said BCMFI chairperson Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung.

It can be recalled that BCMFI endorsed VECO's Osmeña Boulevard Underground Distribution System Project because the same complements the Osmeña Boulevard Restoration and Beautification Project.

VECO's project, which was undertaken in cooperation with PLDT and Globe Telecom, aims to beautify the stretch from the Capitol to Fuente Osmeña by removing all overhead lines.

VECO spokesperson Theresa Sederiosa said the project has been completed but they cannot remove their poles just yet because wires from telephone companies are still connected thereto.

"There was an agreement already for them to transfer their wires. They knew where to transfer these wires," Sederiosa said.

Ching said Rama has been informed about the 23kV underground distribution works, which has been put in place. Installation of secondary lines and transfer of selected meters are also on the last phase. —/JMO (FREEMAN)