Jonas scolds cable firms

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes yesterday scolded utility firms doing business in the city for failing to tidy up their cable wires along thoroughfares after being told to do so.

These tangled cables will hinder the installation of 14 CCTV cameras and traffic lights along major intersections.

Cortes, other city officials, and representatives of utility firms inspected intersections yesterday and found the cables still untidy.

He said dangling wires will absolutely block the security cameras.

He said he wants these “spaghetti cable wires” out before the celebration of Charter Day this August.

Part of the activities during the Charter Day is the ceremonial switch on of the traffic lights.

Cortes said the firms can either consolidate the wires into neat bundles or move the posts farther from the intersections.

“Our purpose in putting CCTV cameras is to control our traffic system. That’s precisely why these cameras should be free from obstructions,” he said.

The CCTV cameras are monitored at the city’s Bantay Command Center, which is located beside the city hall.

Aside from the traffic, Cortes said the cameras will also help monitor the commission of crimes.

Edgardo Inajada, Globe Telecom’s supervisor for field operations, assured the intersections will be cleared of dangling wires before August 30.  (FREEMAN)