Thursday, October 05, 2006 Telecom firm seeks council help v. cable pilferage By Barbara Carla R. Quiero
COUNCILOR Jesus A. Zozobrado will spearhead an investigation on cable theft in the city, which has become a major problem of telecommunication companies today.
The Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Company sought the help of Zozobrado in stopping the proliferation of cable pilferage in Davao City.
Zozobrado is also chair of the Davao City Council committee on energy, communication and transportation.
PLDT Visayas-Mindanao Asset Protection Division manager Celso L. Sison, in his letter to Zozobrado dated September 5, said since January 14 this year they were able to record a total of 35 incidents of PLDT cable pilferages outside plant facilities in the city.
"These series of criminal acts have seriously affected our telecom services in this city especially those situated in several commercial and residential districts, including offices of several agencies of the government," Sison said.
PLDT Visayas-Mindanao team leader Jose Arsenas, in an earlier interview, said Davao City tops the most number of cable wire theft in Mindanao.
He said the recent cable theft incident affected a total of 1,565 lines in the Toril area, which hampered the communication system not only in residents, but also in hospitals and banks.
Sison urged the public to report suspicious activities to PLDT hotline 164.
"We ask the community to condemn these rampant cable pilferage," Sison said in an earlier press conference earlier.
Sison said they would want to arrange a meeting with Zozobrado to discuss the company's current initiatives and future measures that will address the rampant aerial cable pilferage.
Zozobrado said his committee will immediately act on the request of the PLDT. Their letter was in first reading in the agenda of the regular session last
Tuesday.
"My committee will immediately conducts hearings and investigation to find out how best the City Council can help PLDT," Zozobrado said.
