VECO inaugurates underground line system

CEBU, Philippines – The Visayan Electric Company finally inaugurated the first phase of its Underground Distribution System yesterday, a first step towards keeping overhead vicinity in Cebu City free of “spaghetti” wires.

The investment poured in for the first phase was P80 million, according to VECO officials.

The UDS project of VECO is in compliance with City Ordinance No. 1894, known as “An Ordinance Creating the Utility Lines Installation Coordinating Committee as a Sub-committee of the Existing Technical Infrastructure Committee Provided in City Ordinance 1618.”

The ordinance requires mandatory grounding of all utility lines 10 years after its approval in 2001.

Sebastian Lacson, chief operating officer of VECO, said Phase 1 of this project transferred beneath the ground the overhead power lines from the vicinity of Cebu Provincial Capitol to Fuente Osmeña Circle.

He said they will begin the construction of Phase 2 of their project next year. It will cover from Fuente Osmeña Circle to P. del Rosario Street.

“Ang atong giuna kanang Sinulog route. We feel that the Sinulog route is maybe the most emblematic part of Cebu… daghang mga turistang moagi diha, so mao na nga atoang gi-prioritize,” he said.

According to him, they will implement the UDS one kilometer every year until all the VECO power lines in the entire city will have been placed underground.

City Mayor Michael Rama said aside from beautification purpose, this facility will give lesser harm to the people, especially during calamities.

However, when Lacson was asked if they will charge the amount spent for this project to consumers, he said they will include it on the rate.

“It will be part of the rate. But it’s a burden that is spread out over many years. So this is regulatory, approved investment. It’s a burden, but is a burden that is very minor. But definitely any capital expenditure that we do is a burden to consumers if you want to put it that way,” Lacson said.

Furthermore, in any case of repair for the facility, he said they have designed it to have manholes for easy fixing.

Risa Coloyan,  VECO corporate communications supervisor, said the project began last year when Beautiful Cebu Movement Foundation Inc. endorsed UDS as it complemented the city’s Osmeña Boulevard Restoration and Beautification Project.

Coloyan said the utility lines of the other utility companies which have yet to implement this kind of system in the area were moved to other sites.

Based on earlier reports, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company has also started the process of the implementing the UDS.

Engineer Cayetano Cruz of PLDT said the P6 million worth underground system of PLDT from Capitol Site through Fuente Osmeña Circle will be finished before the end of this year.  – /JMD (FREEMAN)