THE City Engineer’s Office (CEO) is struggling to keep up with the numerous dangling wires in Davao City.
CEO Officer-in-Charge lawyer Joseph Dominic S. Felizarta, in a media interview on Monday morning, September 25, at the City Hall Drive, said they are facing challenges in addressing the multiple cases of dangling wires within the city.
“Naa man gihapon tay daghan dili man jud natu maapas ang paghipos ana naa man tay task force sa drainage and road right of way apil apil mana right of way ang dangling wires (We still have a significant number of dangling wires that we cannot effectively manage, despite our efforts and the existence of a task force dedicated to drainage and road right-of-way issues, which also includes addressing dangling wires),” Felizarta said.
He said that despite the task force’s ongoing efforts to remove and clean up the dangling wires, they are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of instances where such wires pose a problem.
In addition to the city's efforts, private telecommunication companies are also exploring ways to prevent their wires from hanging over the roads. Felizarta said some of these telecom companies are considering increasing their workforce to expedite the reduction of dangling wires.
Several telecom companies, including PLDT, Inc.; Globe Telecom; Smart Communications; and Davao Light and Power Company are collaborating with the CEO to address the issue of dangling wires in the city. These companies were part of a recent meeting held by the agency to discuss the matter.
Felizarta underscored that instead of waiting for complaints from the public regarding dangling wires, the agency is taking proactive steps to ensure public safety by promptly addressing any potential hazards posed by these wires as they traverse Davao City.
Similar to many other bustling cities, overhead cables crisscrossing the streets and avenues can be hazardous and unsightly.
In 2014, the late Councilor Leonardo Avila enacted an ordinance, specifically Ordinance Number 0177-14 series of 2014, which mandates the fixing of the messy overhead utility lines near City Hall and the Sanguniang Panlungsod building. RGP
