Utility firms back bill to clear 'spaghetti wires'

Public utility providers have expressed support for a House bill that seeks to clear roads of dangling wires or the so-called spaghetti wires.

Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga said they do not only support it, but are also already doing it.

“Lahat noong mga lugar na napansin namin na kailangang tanggalin yung mga linya at ayusin, ginagawa natin,” Zaldarriaga said in an online interview.

“Ang Meralco ay patuloy na nakikipag-ugnayan sa lahat ng local government units, mga telco, cable companies para maisaayos ang mga kable na nakalaylay at problema na nakita namin dito sa aming franchise area,” he added.

Last year, several Meralco posts in Binondo, Manila fell. Initial reports pointed to the numerous cables that these posts support as the cause of the incident.

Zaldarriaga said they are targetting to clear the Meralco franchise area of dangling and unused wires in two years.

“These are not Meralco lines because Meralco lines have never been an issue. Mataas kasi ang Meralco lines,” he explained.

“Ang problema ay doon sa mga nagkakabit sa poste namin. Ito yung mga ibang service providers na kung minsan, hindi nagpapaalam sa Meralco… That is illegal. And aside from informing us, let us secure a permit from the local government unit,” Zaldarriaga added.

PLDT also assured it removes cables that are no longer in use.

“PLDT typically recovers old cables, particularly copper cables no longer needed in areas where customers have upgraded to fiber. PLDT implements this cleanup drive to ensure the safety and well-being of communities,” PLDT FVP and Group Head of Corporate Communications Cathy Yang said in a statement sent to GMA Integrated News.

“PLDT’s cleanup drive complies with congressional bills and LGU ordinances requiring utility companies to tidy up streets of sagging cables and tilting poles,“ she added.

GMA Integrated News also sought comment from other telcos. They have yet to reply.

The Metro Manila Council has not issued a policy on this but MMC president and San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora told GMA Integrated News that local government units have their own ordinances, which telcos support.

“Delikado po ito sa publiko sapagkat posibleng maging dahilan ng mga aksidente, ng sunog, posibleng may mga mabagsakan ng mga poste. At karamihan naman talaga riyan sa mga wires na yan ay useless na at hindi na gumagana,” Zamora said.

“Talaga naman pong sumusuporta sila. Ngunit naintindihan ko rin kung gaano kahirap at kumplikado ito para rin sa ating mga telcos dahil ang mga wires na ito, malamang deka-dekada na, nagpatong-patong. At para ma-trace yan isa-isa, para malaman kung alin diyan ang live pa o hindi, siguro hindi rin naman ganoon kadali yan,” he added.

There are also pending bills to install the wires and cables underground.—LDF, GMA Integrated News