THE city government of Bacolod is now eyeing to implement the underground utility cabling system this year, Secretary to the Mayor Atty. Joseph Karol Chiu said Tuesday, January 31.
Chiu said the underground cabling system will be part of the P5 billion loan proposal with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and other financing institutions.
He said the city already resubmitted its P5 billion loan proposal after the Department of Finance (DOF) allowed the city to avail the said amount.
“It was earlier reduced to P4.5 billion loan, but now, the DOF has allowed the city to avail at least P5 billion loan,” he added.
Chiu noted that the City Council earlier authorized Benitez to negotiate a loan and enter into an agreement for financing with the DBM for the implementation of the city’s projects.
Based on the approved investment plan of Bacolod, aside from the acquisition of lots and other socio-economic development projects, the loan will also be utilized for infrastructure, port development, waterworks programs and post-Covid-19 projects.
Meanwhile, Chiu said the Bacolod Task Force Spaghetti Wires also intensified its operation in various barangays to clear the dangling wires in the city.
He said as of January 26, the task force already removed at least 50 tons of spaghetti wires dangling in various areas, especially in the main thoroughfares.
He added the task force, along with the Bacolod City Traffic Authority the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco), the city’s Department of Public Services and various telecommunication (telco) firms already removed the spaghetti wires along San Juan Street, Araneta Street and downtown area.
Aside from the downtown, Chiu noted that the task force will also clear the area of Lacson Street and other areas in Barangay Mandalagan.
“We need to get rid of these wires especially in the highways and secondary roads,” he said, saying that some of these are no longer functional.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez earlier issued Executive Order No. 003 creating a Task Force on Spaghetti Wires to remove, clear and recognize entangled and messy wires located in identified locations and public places that poses danger to the general public.
Benitez said that aside from being an eyesore, these dangling wires can pose danger to both motorists and pedestrians.*