Phase1B covers Sinulog route: VECO earmarks P60M for underground system

CEBU, Philippines – The Visayan Electric Co. (VECO) wants to expand its underground distribution system (UDS) project in Cebu City, proposing to spend over P60 million to transfer overhead power lines from Fuente Circle to P. Del Rosario St. underground.

Phase one of the UDS aims to transfer unsightly overhead power cables along Osmeña Boulevard from N. Escario St. up to P. Del Rosario St. underground. Phase 1A covers lines from Cebu Provincial Capitol to Fuente Osmeña Circle. Phase 1B, which is now ongoing, involves lines from Fuente Circle to P. Del Rosario St.

Anton Perdices, chief operating officer of VECO, said the firm has proposed to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) that it is spending some P60 million for the second part of phase one, hopefully to be finished before the Sinulog next year.

Late last year, VECO completed the first part of phase one which it cost P96 million. It cleared untidy and redundant clusters of utility poles.

“We will continue to do as much as underground projects as possible,” Perdices said in an interview last week.

Perdices said VECO is essentially expanding its UDS project in the Sinulog route.

Perdices also revealed the company is considering the Imus Avenue-Mango Avenue area for the project’s next phase, targeted to start next year or in 2017.

“My dream would have been let’s underground the whole city but it’s too expensive. But little by little, we’re starting laying it out where it makes sense,” the COO said, adding that there are more works involved in the underground system than putting up overhead cables.

VECO’s UDS was launched in 2013 to initially comply with the provisions of Cebu City Ordinance 1894 to create a power distribution system that is aesthetically pleasing to residents.

Perdices said the firm has an existing joint pole agreement with utilities such as PLDT, Globe and Skycable to get rid of excess poles.

Perdices also urged utilities to invest into underground system, saying that Cebu must be like Hong Kong, Singapore and Korea where overhead cable wires are not seen in public streets.

Earlier, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama gave utility firms a second change to get rid of tangled “spaghetti” wires in the city after they failed to fully deliver what they promised three months ago. Rama said he was expecting full compliance by May 1 next year.

The mayor said the city government may have to cut down some redundant poles to show it is serious in addressing spaghetti wires or leaning and redundant poles that endanger the public. (FREEMAN)