Guardo pushes one pole policy for all utility firms

CEBU, Philippines — The chairman of the committee on communication and other utilities of the Cebu City Council, Councilor Jerry Guardo, has proposed an amendment to the existing ordinance regulating the installation of utility wires in the city.

Guardo met with the officials of different utility firms to get their position on the proposed amendment. Under the proposed amendment, Guardo wants all utility companies to use a single post and eliminate all wooden poles. This way, sagging and spaghetti wires will be eliminated.

‘‘There are some, makita nato nga nagdahirig na siya, I noticed there are also post nga naputol na siya ang wire nalang ang nagpugong nga maka-stand pa siya, ang uban gipang-anay na,’’ Guardo said.

Guardo’s proposal is to allow only concrete or metal post that can hold all utility wirings. Guardo is also proposing to change the design of the posts to be installed within the city. He suggested assigning specific horizontal cross arm within the post for every utility.

‘‘Ang tanan utilities; ang taga PLDT, Globe, Sky cable, and other utilities naa na silay assign nga line sa post,’’ Guardo said.

He is also proposing to elevate the standard height limit of the electric live wires on the post from the minimum of 16ft to 20ft.

‘‘Kay mo sangko sa mga uban truck unya ang uban maputol or sag siya mga two feet duol nalang kaayo, head up nalang sa mga tao, so dilikado,’’he said.

In the new design, the telecommunication companies will have an assigned height of 20ft above the ground while secondary lines of Visayan Electric Company will now be 22ft above ground level.

Guardo said that the officials of the various utility firms are amenable to the proposed amendments.

‘‘It should be a form of ordinance for a long term effect of this project kay kung walay ordinance di na sad mapadayon ang programa, with this they will be guided by this ordinance,’’ Guardo said.

Meanwhile, Guardo said that the clearing of spaghetti wires from Osmeña Fuente, Jones Avenue to City Central Elementary School was already completed, including the Imus Avenue from Barangay Careta all the way up to Sto. Rosario Church.

The clearing operation is ongoing along Mango Avenue. The other side of the avenue was already completed. He said they will try to complete the operation in Mango Avenue as soon as possible so they can transfer to Escario Street in Barangay Capitol Site.

The cleaning up of spaghetti wires started two months ago. Guardo said it is a joint project of the city government, VECO and telecommunication companies. Carl James T. Cabarles (FREEMAN)