THE underground cabling of power lines along Ramon Magsaysay Avenue in Davao City is expected to be completed in two years, an official from the Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC), a subsidiary of AboitizPower, said.
DLPC Reputation Enhancement Department manager Fermin Edillon told SunStar Davao in a phone interview on Monday, July 26, that they started the excavation and other ground works such as pipe laying and manhole installation on Friday, July 22.
This is part of the Underground Distribution System (UDS) Project
Edillon said several weeks ago, the power utility marked the areas that will be excavated for the underground cabling project.
He said the first phase of the project will be from the Post Office to Suazo Street.
The official said they are expected to complete the first phase in the first quarter of 2024.
The second phase, which will cover the remaining portion of Magsaysay, is expected to commence in June 2023, and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025.
Edillon said the projected timelines might be affected depending on the situation on the ground.
"Considering sa atong experience sa San Pedro and sa C.M. Recto, naa mi nakita nga mga common na concerns (Considering our experience at San Pedro and C.M. Recto," he said, emphasizing some of the factors such as the road right of way, weather condition, limited number of hours for the construction work, and even logistic issues on the delivery of equipment supply.
In line with this, the official said they are in constant coordination with the Davao City government, particularly with the City Engineer's Office and the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO).
As for CTTMO, a traffic scheme has been laid down to mitigate the possible bulk of vehicular traffic the project would cause.
"Nagapangandam na mi sa mga possible solution sa mga concerns na masinati nato sa pagkalot," he said.
The UDS project is in compliance of the City Government of Davao through City Ordinance 0152-17, Series of 2017, wherein Section 5 of the ordinance mandates all electric utility companies and public telecommunication carriers servicing the city, including but not limited to other persons constructing, maintaining, installing aerial wires and cables shall place all the wires and cables underground.
To mitigate the possible traffic situation in the area, he said that their workers will only be working in the evening, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day.
As of now, Edillon said the Magsaysay stretch is, by far, the last phase for the underground cabling project.
He said DLPC is also working on the project for the entire stretch of San Pedro, which is already 70 percent complete.
DLPC completed its underground cabling activities along CM Recto Street from corner San Pedro Street to corner Ramon Magsaysay Avenue in the city in August 2021. This was the second underground cabling project in the city with the first project implemented in 2016 around Davao City Hall and Sangguniang Panlungsod. RGL