‘Spaghetti wires’ in Iloilo City owned by telcos, says Estante

Unsightly “spaghetti wires” or tangled in Iloilo City are owned by telecommunications and cable companies, according to Councilor Ely Estante.

This was found out during the recent committee hearing on Estante’s proposed ordinance that seeks to eradicate dangling spaghetti wires or in the metropolis.

“Ang wirings kag mga poste nga nagkalabilin diri iya gid sang PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.),” said Estante.

According to the councilor, telecommunications and cable companies have “no uniform plan” for the installation of their telephone lines and cable-television lines.

Specifically, the measure requires all telcos, cable companies and Panay Electric Company (PECO) “to fix/arrange all sagging wirings, spaghetti wirings as well as unsafe and stranded poles.”

Estante said he already spearheaded two committee hearings on the ordinance.

Aside from being an “eyesore”, the presence of dangling wires also endanger the lives of the public, the councilor stressed.

“If they (companies) fail to fix spaghetti wires and electric posts, they will face penalties and suffer possible cancellation of their business permits,” Estante said.

As to the stranded poles, Estante said PLDT still has 49 poles to remove in the middle of the road because of widening projects.

“And PECO naman daw six to 10 nalang ang nabilin nila nga halinon,” he added.

Estante said PECO’s Marcelo Cacho suggested the creation of a technical working group (TWG) composed of telcos, PECO, Department of Public Work and Highways (DPWH), City Engineering Office (CEO), and City Legal Office.

“Sila mahatag sila rekomendasyon iplastar nila then i-collate namon tapos kami matigayon hearing kon sugot kami or indi i-arrange ang mga spaghetti wires nga gawayway kag gakabugto, mga wala na-arrange,” he said.

Earlier, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas issued an ultimatum to the companies, giving them until December this year to fix the tangled wires.

“Kon indi matatapan within this year or until December sya nalang mang utod,” Estante said.IMT

PHOTO CREDITS: Iloilo City Engineer’s Office/ Francis Man ay