BAGUIO CITY – The long-standing problem on the perilous and unsightly public utility “spaghetti wires” is now being effectively addressed.
City Administrator Bonifacio Dela Pena reported to the Management Committee (Mancom) meeting with Mayor Benjamin Magalong last Sept. 10 the visibly improved condition of the utility cables along Magsaysay Avenue owing to the round-the-clock work being rendered by the telecommunication and utility companies led by the Benguet Electric Cooperative Inc. (BENECO).
Dela Pena assessed that the spaghetti wire fixing project which covers the whole stretch of Magsasay Avenue up to Session Road has attained a 60 percent completion.
The city earlier gave the companies until Sept. 7 to fix the problem but agreed to extend the deadline for another week because of the continuing rains that pose danger and hamper the fast-tracking job.
The companies adopted the one-pole policy where BENECO puts up 70-foot poles to which other utility companies will connect under joint pole agreements.
The same scheme will also be applied in other areas of the city where dangling wires serve as eyesores and fire and accident hazards.
Dela Pena said allowances will be given to companies asking for more time to comply due to the high costs and inavailability of materials needed and pending upgrading projects involving contracts with clients.
It will be recalled that the BENECO earlier submitted a proposal to relocate lines underground as a permanent solution to the dangling wire problem.
The said proposal is now being studied by the city council./Aileen P. Refuerzo
