To get rid of spaghetti wires: Rama gives ‘ultimatum’

CEBU, Philippines —  The committee assigned to eradicate spaghetti wires in the city has until the first week of December to complete the mission.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama gave the ultimatum to the technical infrastructure committee headed by Councilor Jerry Guardo during a meeting yesterday after he personally observed that there are still lots of dangling wires around the city.

Rama told the members of the committee that he does not want to see anymore spaghetti wires after the first week of December. The mayor describes these abandoned electrical and telecommunication wires as eyesores and hazards to public safety.

“First week of December, I don’t want to see anymore spaghetti (wires),” said Rama.

The so-called “spaghetti wires” have long been a problem in the city but have gone worse after Typhoon Odette on December 16, 2021. Many residents sent complaints to the City Hall regarding this matter since the dangling wires are posing danger to the general public.

With this, Rama formed Task Force Ratsada (TFR) for the clearing of these wires in the city. TFR was composed of personnel from the Cebu City Disaster Response Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO), Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE) team, Cebu City Traffic Office (CCTO), Department of Public Services (DPS) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) – Special Rescue Force (SRF).

Last 2020, the late councilor Antonio Cuenco also raised this concern, stating that there is a need to address the danger the inclining lopsided posts and dangling spaghetti wires pose.

Cuenco was alarmed that several electric posts, with dangling spaghetti wires, are hanging all over the city.

The late councilor also cited City Ordinance 1894 creating the Utility Lines Installation Coordinating Committee (ULICC) as a sub-committee of the existing Technical Infrastructure Committee provided in City Ordinance 1618.

The main objective of the ordinance is to pursue a utility application strategy that is safe and secure, at the least possible cost, and an application system that will rid the city of urban eyesores that otherwise damage the quality of the urban design of the city.

To recall, early this year, it was reported that a joint venture agreement between the Cebu City government and a private entity is currently under discussion for the implementation of an underground cabling facility for power and telcos here beginning at the South Road Properties as model.

Guardo earlier told The Freeman that there is an existing ordinance authored by Councilor Nestor Archival two decades ago regarding the establishment of underground cables, but this has not been fully implemented.

The implementation of underground cabling for telcos and electricity was brought up again following the massive destruction caused by typhoon Odette in the city. FPL (FREEMAN)