ERC starts probe on pole fires in Iloilo City

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has started investigating the series of fire incidents in electric utility poles following a complaint lodged by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas,

Fire Chief Inspector Christopher Regencia, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Iloilo City fire marshal, confirmed that representatives from ERC went to his office Wednesday morning to verify the data on pole fires in the city.

But prior to that, Regencia also attended a hearing called by the ERC more than a week ago for the same issue.

During the hearing, he submitted reports on utility pole fires since 2014.

“The documents are complete – the day and time that the incident happened, the place, and even the caller,” he said.

BFP records showed that from Jan. 1, 2014 to Oct. 29, 2019, a total of 2,887 fire incidents happened in Iloilo City.

Pole fires accounted for 1,464 cases, or 51.187 percent of all fire incidents during the said period.

In 2014, BFP records revealed that 224 pole fires occurred in the city out of the 427 fire incidents.

By 2015, it went down to 228 but went up again to 303 in 2016, where BFP recorded the most number of fire incidents in a period of six years.

In 2017, a total of 275 pole fires occurred and another 233 in 2018.

From Jan. 1 to Oct. 29, 2019, a total of 201 pole fires erupted in the city.

Records also showed that electric pole fires usually peaked in April until October.

“It usually happens kapag mainit ang panahon,” Regencia said.

Regencia said that these electric utility poles are owned by the Panay Electric Company (PECO).

But PECO said the company should not be blamed for all the pole fires in Iloilo City claiming that wires of telecommunication companies are also attached to their poles.

“It’s for the technical experts to determine. The report we have submitted are complete with details,” Regencia said.

But he noted that wires of telco companies usually carry a 24-volt charge as opposed to PECO wires which has 220-voltage charge.

Regencia said they informed PECO of every pole fire incident that BFP-Iloilo City responded to.

PECO reportedly told the BFP that they lacked technicians to respond to the incidents, although their personnel would go to the area where a pole fire occurred.

For every pole fire, the BFP pegged the damage at only P300.

“Sayang ‘yung resources in responding to these series of incidents but we don’t complain. It’s our job,” Regencia said.

When he was the fire marshal of BFP-Cagayan de Oro City, Regencia said the metro’s electric provider usually asked them not to respond to electric pole fires.

Instead, the Cagayan Electric Power & Light Co., Inc. (Cepalco) will send its personnel to fix the problem.

Two weeks ago, Treñas acted on “mounting” complaints against PECO by asking the ERC and the Presidential Complaint Center (PCC) to look into the company’s supposed inadequately-maintained lines, power outages, and hazardous electric posts.

Treñas said he was alarmed by the pole fires which might be attributed to poorly-maintained PECO facilities.

ERC is the regulator of the energy sector which includes PECO.

The PCC is a front line desk in the Office of the President that serves as a liaison unit for various departments and agencies of the government and private institutions/companies on all requests for assistance and information, as well as complaints and grievances of the general public.