The Cebu City council meets with representatives of utility firms in an executive sessioin in the hope of solving the problem of dangling and sagging wires all over the city like this one at Corner V. Gullas and D. Jakosalem streets. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)
Representatives of some of the utility firms in Cebu City assured the city council that they will address the concern on dangling wires all over the city.
In an executive session Monday afternoon, Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) head of operations for Cebu Elmer “Bong” Lintag said they have added more personnel to check and fix the existence of sagging wires along major thoroughfares.
“We continue to intensify efforts to fix these dangling wires especially with the accidents that happened. Our priority is focused on clearing all facilities crossing. We have outsourced personnel. Nadagdagan na,” Lintag told the council.
He said they are addressing these concerns especially for the coming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings this month and next year’s Sinulog and International Eucharistic Congress (IEC).
He promised to do everything that they can to meet the October 28 deadline which was agreed by utility firms and Mayor Michael Rama in a meeting last month.
During the meeting, the utility firms signed a commitment to address the problem on dangling wires and rotting poles all over the city. This came after deadly incidents of fallen posts due to sagging wires that get caught in passing vehicles.
An incident in barangay Tinago resulted to the death of a 13-year old boy. A few weeks later, another incident happened in barangay Lahug which injured two women, one of whom eventually died.
A frustrated Councilor Nestor Archival, who heads the committee on utilities, said that despite the commitment of utility firms to address the concerns, dangling wires are still prevalent.
“It’s not enough. We in the committee are being asked what we’re doing? Passing ordinances and not implementing them,” said Archival who earlier gave privilege speeches regarding the accidents which resulted to the calling of the executive session.
For their part, Edlin De Los Reyes, technical manager of Globe Telecommunications, said they have cooperated in city-led projects like Sugbo Matahom which aims to improve wires along the Sinulog route.
“You’re being insensitive. Dangling wires are still all over the city. This is a case of non-attendance. Look all over Cebu City. You say there are improvements but for me it’s getting worse,” Archival said.
De Los Reyes also gave a presentation in behalf of the city’s Utility Lines Infrastructure Coordination Committee (ULICC).
He said there are several problems that they encounter in implementing the ordinance aimed at improving utility cables in the city, which include having cables underground, among others.
“There are a lot of drawbacks like the huge cost, the coverage which is 80 barangays over 315 square kilometers, and also customer readiness,” De Los Reyes said.
Representatives from the Visayan Electric Company (VECO) were present but didn’t speak before the council.
Belinda Wong, a representative of Khitzu Development Corp, which owns the boom truck that resulted in the accident in barangay Lahug, said they have covered the hospital bills, memorial and burial expenses of the woman who died during the accident.