The Iloilo City Government is in talks with power distributor More Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) and telecommunication companies for the proposed underground cabling project.
An initial meeting was recently held. Representatives from MORE Power, Converge, Globe, Smart, PLDT, Skycable, Panay Broadband, and DITO attended the meeting at the City Hall.
Engineer Bailey Del Castillo, deputy head of MORE Power’s Network Operations, suggested to start the project from Plaza Libertad towards the whole stretch of Calle Real and in the district plazas of Jaro, La Paz, Molo and Mandurriao.
The project, which aims to get rid of unsightly dangling or “spaghetti” wires, is estimated to cost around P150.7 million.
“Pinag-usapan how the telcos are going to finance the P54 million. Pwede hatiin nila lahat, as one option,” said Del Castillo.
“There was also a suggestion that MORE Power nalang lahat mag finance ng P150.7 million then they will rent na lang on the trench that we will allocate for them.”
According to Del Castillo, the amount will be charged to the consumers gradually.
“Even we will shoulder everything, the impact is very small it will be spread to 30 years, it will be very small. Parang hindi makita sa bill if that will be passed, on based on our initial calculation,” he said.
The project, once finalized, will be presented the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for approval.
Del Castillo said they are eyeing to start the underground cabling works by early next year.IMT
