Mayor Reminds January 16 Deadline for Underground Cabling at Diversion Road

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has reiterated the January 16 deadline for public utility providers to complete the removal of aerial wires along Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue, also known as Diversion Road.

This follows the city government’s initiative to dismantle overhead cables along J.M. Basa Street (Calle Real).

In a statement on Saturday, January 5, Treñas emphasized the importance of underground cabling for preserving the avenue’s aesthetic and maintaining urban order.

“Following the clearing of Calle Real, I am calling on all utilities and telecommunications companies to take immediate action in removing the wires crossing the entire stretch of [Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue],” Treñas said.

“These unsightly lines, spanning from the service road to the other side, have turned this iconic avenue into a long stretch of what looks like clotheslines, detracting from its beauty. This is especially disappointing after the national government, through the efforts of Senator Franklin Drilon, invested millions in constructing and developing our bike lanes and service roads,” he added.

Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue stretches 16.62 kilometers, from the boundary of Iloilo City Proper and Molo districts to the Airport Access Road leading to the Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan town.

The push for underground cabling is mandated by City Regulation Ordinance No. 2023-006, which took effect on March 13, 2023.

The ordinance requires the undergrounding of cables in key areas, including all plaza complexes, Sunburst Park, Senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Avenue, and protected cultural and heritage sites in Iloilo City.

Utility providers were given an eight-month period, or 240 days, to comply with the ordinance.

Earlier this year, the city government dismantled remaining aerial cables along J.M. Basa Street after repeated calls for compliance were ignored.

Daily Guardian has reached out to Treñas for clarification on whether the city government will directly remove non-compliant cables along Diversion Road. He has yet to respond as of this writing.