Rama to see if utility firms finished untangling wires

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is set to meet with power and telecommunication firms to see if they have accomplished the tasks of removing their dangling wires, deadline of which is today.

The utility firms, which signed an agreement on July 22 to clear the city of dangling wires and to remove multiple poles, will present their accomplishment report in the meeting tentatively set for Friday.

In yesterday’s press conference, Rama reserved his observation as to the compliance of the utility firms, saying he has yet to see the “before and after” presentation.

He reiterated though that the city’s engineering personnel will remove the posts themselves if the firms did not keep their commitment.

“I already made a statement that if they will not do what they are supposed to do, I will start cutting their posts… No, I’m not joking. So that they will know that we mean business,” said Rama.

Engr. Jose Marie Poblete, who heads the city’s Department of Engineering and Public Works, said the utility firms were actually already prepared to present their reports to Rama last week, but the mayor was out of town for an official business.

 “Notwithstanding the deadline, I think and I believe nga kining trabahuon wala mag-agad sa deadline. This should be a continuing effort on the part of TIC (Technical Infrastructure Committee),” Poblete pointed out.

As what he had noticed, Poblete said, the utility firms prioritized the major power and telecommunication lines, which had been reported by concerned citizens.

“Naa na sila’y nahipos. Akong pagsabot kay they are working by area kay kinahanglan magdungan ang mga telcos kay daghan man ‘na ang tag-iya sa mga linya,” said Poblete.

City Councilor Nestor Archival Sr., however, said there had been “no substantial progress” on the part of the utility firms in bundling dangling wires or providing other maintenance services.

“The problem is they just don’t give attention. I don’t know, they are trying to do something but it is not enough for me,” he said.

Archival, who heads the council’s Committee on Energy, Transportation, Communications, and Other Utilities, said he is planning to push for an ordinance seeking to penalize utility firms that fail to follow the necessary maintenance works. — (FREEMAN)