Telcos own ‘spaghetti wires’ – councilor

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

DANGLING electric wires or spaghetti wires in Iloilo City are owned by telecommunication companies.

Councilor Ely Estante, the proponent of an ordinance requiring all telcos including Panay Electric Company to arrange and fix spaghetti wires in the city, said he already spearheaded two committee hearings on the ordinance.

“Ang akon ordinance is requiring all telcos, PECO and other nga ila himuson nga nagaluyloy basta spaghetti wires pati mga poste nga nagahilay i-plastar. Naka-conduct na kami committee hearings last September and two weeks ago,” he said.

During the committee hearings, Estante said it was found out that most of the dangling electric wires and electric posts were owned by telecommunication companies.

“Wala man nila naplastar kon pila poste nila sa syudad kag laban diri sa mga poste kag wirings iya sang PLDT,” he lamented.

Under the ordinance, companies who failed to fix spaghetti wires and electric posts will pay penalties and suffer possible cancellation of business permits.

According to Estante, PECO suggested that a technical working group (TWG) composed of PECO, telcos, Department of Public Work and Highways (DPWH), City Engineering Office (CEO), and City Legal Office will be formed to come up with possible recommendations.

“Sila mahatag sila rekomendasyon iplastar nila then i-collate namon tapos kami matigayon hearing kon sugot kami or indi i-arrange ang mga spaghetti wires nga gawayway kag gakabugto, mga wala na-arrange,” he said.

Estante said PECO already submitted their recommendations in October while PLDT is set to consult with its Manila office.

The councilor reiterated that Mayor Jerry Treñas warned telcos to fix their spaghetti wirings by December.

“May pronouncement daan si mayor kon indi matatapan within this year or until December siya na lang kuno mang-utod sa mga linya,” he said.

Estante said the ordinance can also include color coding of electrical wirings to identify the owners.