PB urges DPWH to act on wrongly-positioned poles

CEBU, Philippines- Following incidents of toppled utility poles, the Cebu Provincial Board is asking the Department of Public Works and Highways-7 to take measures against trees and electric posts ‘erratically’ placed along major roads and highways in the province.

The PB suggested for the formulation of immediate plans to relocate or remove trees and poles so as to ensure the safety of road users.

It found out that the roads and highways in some areas in the province are obstructed by poles and trees despite the road expansion undertaken supposedly to improve vehicular traffic.

“The existence of these poles and trees poses a grave risk to motorists and pedestrians passing through these roadways, exposing them to possible accidental collapses and crashes due to its obstruction,” read part of the PB resolution sponsored Board Member Miguel Antonio Magpale.

Earlier this month, a 13-year-old boy died while another 13-year-old girl was injured after a utility post fell on them in Barangay Tinago, Cebu City.

The boy was declared dead on arrival at Cebu City Medical Center while the girl suffered contusions in her forehead.

The police reported that the post gave way after passing trucks often snagged its wires that were dangling low.

A week after, another utility pole fell on two women in Barangay Lahug, one of whom succumbed to a head injury after two days of being in coma.

The incident was blamed on a boom truck which reportedly snagged the dangling wires between two Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company poles, pulling one downward and hitting the two women.

There was a proposal to cut old trees along main roads in the southern part of the province but it failed to realize due to oppositions from environmentalists. (FREEMAN)