MMDA Chairperson Artes presents photo of the recent pole that fell caused by tangled wires, with Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano. (Photo courtesy of MMDA)
QUEZON CITY (PIA) — The Metro Manila Council (MMC) has approved, in principle, a resolution urging the local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila to pass an ordinance that would regulate and monitor the installation and maintenance of distribution lines and get rid of dangling wires and “spaghetti” cables over streets in the metropolis.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Don Artes said during the Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting on Tuesday said that dangling wires, overloaded poles, and jumbled placement of distribution wires along Metro Manila streets not only have become eyesores but pose a danger to the general public’s lives and properties.
“Noong isang araw ay may bumagsak na poste dahil sa salasalabat na wire at nagdulot ng mabigat na trapiko. Walang nakadaan dahil nakaharang sa daan… Kailangan nang maiwasan ang ganito para hindi na umabot sa pagkawala ng buhay,” said Artes.
(The other day a pole fell due to a tangled wire and caused heavy traffic. No one was able to pass because the road was blocked… This must be avoided so that no more lives are lost.)
According to Artes, Meralco officials raised in the meeting that they cannot just easily remove the wires because they experience difficulty in identifying which are non-operational.
“Temporary disruption of services which results in complaints from affected residents are also among their challenges,” he added.
Before the cleanup, Artes said an information drive will be launched to warn the residents ahead of time of any disruption when dangling wires and “spaghetti” cables are to be removed.
Under the MMDA Resolution 24-16 Series of 2024, dangling wires, overloaded poles, and jumbled placement of distribution wires is a common sight in Metro Manila which not only mars the cityscape but poses grave threat to the lives and limbs of the public.
“This long-standing malady needs to be immediately addressed and remedied as a measure of efficient and effective governance for the promotion of the general welfare of the people,” cited in the resolution.
Likewise, San Juan City Mayor and MMC President Francis Zamora said some of the wires attached to poles are useless and non-operational and can be removed.
“Sa bisa ng mga ordinansa na ipapasa ng mga LGUs, magkakaroon ng coordination kasama ang mga telcos at Meralco upang i-trace sa mga wire na hindi na talaga kailangan at ang itira na lang ay yung mga gumagana pa para makaiwas sa aksidente at sunog,” said Zamora.
(By virtue of the ordinances that will be passed by the LGUs, there will be coordination with the telcos and Meralco to trace the wires that are no longer really needed and the only ones that are left are those that are still working to avoid accidents and fires.)
Zamora said each LGU can pass their ordinances to ensure that wires and cables will be regulated and monitored to prevent accidents, citing that San Juan City has been enforcing the City Ordinance No. 65, the “Anti-Dangling Wire Task Force Ordinance since 2020.
Meanwhile, Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval thanked Artes for repairing the Malabon-Navotas Navigational gate which malfunctioned due to mechanical problems last week.
More than the repair of the damage, the MMDA chief said that they are looking for a permanent solution to address the flood problem in the city in coordination with the local government. (MMDA/PIA-NCR)
