Intramuros begins to declutter, migrates utility cables underground 

In an attempt to preserve the charm of the historic Intramuros, the Intramuros Administration (IA) has started its decluttering project in and around the Walled City.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, IA shared that it has already migrated the utility cables around Plaza Roma underground.

Also known as Plaza de Roma, the public square is situated in front of the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Manila Cathedral).

According to the post, the project is part od the rehabilitation of Calle Aduana.

"Early next year, as part of the rehabilitation of Calle Aduana, we will begin to remove the rest of the poles and bury all the cables along this historic street, while redesigning its streetscape for a more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly environment," IA stated.

Last June, (IA) administrator Marco Antonio Luisito Sardillo III revealed that the plan to migrate the utility cables underground  has been around since 1973.

But it was only this year that it finally took off because of the support of the Department of Tourism and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

According to Sardillo, there are already a lot of reasons why underground cabling is a must in Intramuros.

He said that the district already has narrow and irregular sidewalks, and some of these utility poles are right smack in the middle of these sidewalks, leaving very little space for pedestrians.

Underground cabling also makes the delivery of basic services such as power more resilient to disasters. He added that removing "unsightly poles and cables" helps restore the atmosphere of the historic Intramuros.

Sardillo said that the Intramuros is the first pre-existing 'city' that embarked on an underground cabling project.  — Trisha Macas/RSJ, GMA News