DINAGYANG 2020 PREP: Utilities start clearing spaghetti wires, poles

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

The Iloilo Utilities Group (IUG) composed of Panay Electric Co., telecommunication, and cable companies in Iloilo City have started clearing the spaghetti wires and poles obstructing the streets in preparation for the staging of the Dinagyang 2020 next year.

According to PECO Head of Public Engagement and Government Affairs Marcelo Cacho, the IUG will prioritize the downtown area in City Proper district where some of the activities of Dinagyang 2020 will be held.

“PECO and the telcos already have a coordinated approach to clean up the Downtown area. Ang priority gid before Dinagyang is the Downtown area particularly in JM Basa St., Iznart St., and Muelley Loney,” Pastolero said in a phone interview on Wednesday.

From Dec 4-10, Cacho said they already removed around 27 redundant poles including the tidying and bundling of wires.

“What we are trying to do in Downtown area is a bit more of hybrid. Ang bundling, rearranging of telco tables will really help beautify the city of Iloilo. Amo na amon nga goal is to remove all the spaghetti wires in the Downtown area as a utilities group,” he said.

The utilities also committed equipment and personnel for the clearing of the downtown area.

PECO deployed two basket trucks, two boom trucks, four personnel and two line engineers; four personnel from Cable Star Iloilo; one boom truck and three personnel from Globe Telecom; two personnel from Sky Cable Iloilo and four personnel from PLDT.

After the Downtown area, Cacho said they will schedule the clearing of other areas in the city.

“Other areas will be given schedules. There are multiple sites. The whole city needs to be upgraded,” he said.

140 poles owned by telcos and PECO are obstructing the major streets in the metro, according to Executive Assistant for Power Engr. Randy Pastolero.

Out of this number, 106 of these poles are owned by telcos while 34 are owned by PECO.

Pastolero said the poles were initially identified by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as the first priorities in the city that need immediate action.

Recently, Mayor Jerry Treñas gave PECO and the telcos until December 31, 2019 to clear all the spaghetti wires and obstructing poles in the metro.