Telcos, utility firms told: Remove messy wires, poles

CEBU, Philippines —  The Mandaue City Council has requested the utility and power service companies to get rid of dangling “spaghetti wires” and to remove/transfer utility posts, power boxes and water meters obstructing the sidewalks.

“The perennial problem of spaghetti wires, drop wires and overhead cable wires hanging loosely from street posts pose as a serious threat to safety and remains an imminent danger which needs to be addressed by utility firms,” read the council’s resolution penned by City Councilor Jimmy Lumapas.

The council noted these obstructions in Barangays Labogon, Tingub, Tipolo, Pagsabungan, Banilad, Maguikay, Centro and Cambaro.

Based on the Mandaue City Enforcement Unit’s report dated December 29, 2020, the wires, many hanging loosely, are properties of the Visayas Electric Company, GLOBE, and PLDT, while the road obstructions belong to the Metropolitan Cebu Water District and Gama Water Services.

The council said the city government is committed to address the “long-standing problem on the perilous and unsightly public utility spaghetti wires and unlawful structures on the roads.”

The council’s call is in consonance with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to reclaim public roads that are being used for private ends.

The President’s directive was echoed by the Department of Interior and Local Government in its Memorandum Circular No. 2020-145, which calls on the local government units to continue implementing the government’s road clearing policy.

The DILG’s Road Clearing Operation 2.0 (RCO 2.0) will end today, February 15. It was supposed to conclude on January 15, but the department extended the deadline due to the pandemic.

In a statement, DILG undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said it will no longer be extended after today.

The DILG’s validation of LGUs’ compliance will commence tomorrow, February 16, and will end on March 2, 2021.

The DILG added that LGUs under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) or post-quarantine scenario will be validated according to their full implementation of road clearing operations.

The entire Cebu Province including the three highly urbanized cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu are under MGCQ.

The seven components for validation include the removal of road obstructions, enactment of an enabling ordinance, conduct of an inventory of road obstructions, crafting and implementation of a displacement plan, rehabilitation of cleared roads, creation of a grievance mechanism, and compliance with the ban on tricycles along national roads.

The LGUs’ compliance on the ban of tricycles on national highways will also be checked. — KQD (FREEMAN)