DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 17 March) – Like most cities in the country, the overhead cables used by electric and telecommunications companies in this city are such a mess. Finally, the city government wants to do something about it.
Councilor Leonardo Avila III, head of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s communications committee, said today that Davao will soon begin to set up underground cables to replace the ugly overhead wires.
In an interview, Councilor Leonardo Avila III said several utilities using overhead wires are interested in the project and have committed to an experimental setup of underground cables.
Avila said the dry run will take place at the City Hall and Sangguniang Panlungsod grounds within the year.
He added that the city government has partnered with the Davao Light and Power Corporation and Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Co. (PLDT), and a cable company for the project.
Avila said the committee will be drafting its report soon, with the agreement only being verbal as of the latest committee hearing held earlier this month. The city administrator’s office will be drafting the budgetary requirements for the project, Avila said.
Last year, Avila proposed the measure after showing a presentation to the city council.
The presentation showed different areas in the city found to have wires from different utility providers that use the overhead lines via the city’s existing electric poles. Avila said he will be proposing that the city adopt an underground setup for the city’s wires.
Avila said in a privilege speech August last year that the utilities using the city’s poles and eventually causing tangled cable and telephone wires have messed up the city’s skyline.
He said during the privilege speech that he has called the attention of the Pole Users Association regarding the matter.
“The city’s skyline deserves a better view,” he said during the speech.
The measure has so far passed first reading, with deliberations to come after the committee report.
He said there will be no more committee hearings on the matter and that the dry run will be the benchmark for the rest of the city, if successfully implemented.