THE DAVAO Light and Power Company (DLPC) and other telecom companies held an inaugural cleanup of inactive cables and wires along major thoroughfares and streets in Davao City.
The inaugural activity was pioneered by DLPC from the corner of Pelayo Street to C.M. Recto Street on Feb. 4 in compliance with Ordinance No. 0354-23 or the Anti-Spaghetti Wire Ordinance.
Roger Velasco, DLPC chief operations officer, said about 35 poles (15 from telcos, 10 from DLPC) will be removed from the said area.
“Ang purpose gyud namo ani nga pagtabang sa syudad is the safety. Diri man gud, ma-prevent nato ang cable nga maglaylay o sagging wires, masangita’g truck and maguyod ang poste, and of course, for aesthetics of the city (The primary purpose in helping the city is safety. We can prevent trucks from being ensnared by the sagging wires and taking down the electric post along with them),” Velasco said.
The activity was joined by PLDT, Globe, DITO, and other Internet and cable companies, to remove clustered poles and dead or inactive wires, and install bracket and pole clamps. They also bundled unidentified cables together.
Velasco said the bracket installed and assigned corridors for each telco “will help consumers identify the cables easily.”
He also clarified that the area is separate from DLPC’s Underground Distribution System.
Ordinance proponent Councilor Bonz Andre Militar, information technology committee chair, said, “Naa rata’y ibutang nga reflective tape sa pagkakaron, dili ta actually mag-rewire (We only placed reflective tape for now, it’s not actually rewiring),” Militar said.
Militar said the activity will be completed on that same day, for the said area.
The 20th City Council approved the “Anti-Spaghetti Wire Ordinance of 2023” on final reading during the 45th regular session on Dec 1 last year to regulate pole installation and usage in the city.
Section 4 of the ordinance states “no poles shall obstruct and impede any road right of way, sidewalks and alley” within all areas in the city.
It was authored by Councilor Diosdado Angelo Junior R. Mahipus and co-authored by Councilor Jessica M. Bonguyan. The activity will operate every other weekend to avoid traffic congestion in the city, Velasco said.
He also shared that the activity was the first-ever in the Philippines, and will also be replicated in the DLPC-franchise areas of Panabo City, Carmen, Braullo Dujali, and Sto. Tomas towns.
