On diggings, overhead wires: Utility firms reminded of Mandaue ordinance

CEBU, Philippines — The Mandaue City Council has requested the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) and the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) to inform all service utility companies of an existing ordinance governing the excavation, diggings, restoration and installation of overhead and underground service lines.

A resolution, authored by Councilor Jimmy Lumapas, was approved yesterday requesting the two offices for the dissemination of City Ordinance No. 12-2012-768, which was approved on January 30, 2013 yet.

"Time and again, the city is experiencing continuous and uncoordinated diggings and excavations on its major thoroughfares and on the other hand, overhead lines are in its declining state and the continuous display of spaghetti wires from above is an eyesore and besmirching the Cityscape’s image," Lumapas’ resolution reads.

Lumapas, chairman of the committee on transportation, communication and public utilities, said that such activities, if not properly regulated, may continue to cause inconvenience, pose hazards and endanger the life, limb and property of motorists and pedestrians.

He said that in order to harmonize and regulate the installation efforts of overhead main and secondary utility/service lines, the ordinance provides for the limitations of aerial utility line, with emphasis on its height requirement, proper insulation and color coding for the bundling of wires.

Few weeks ago, a motorcycle rider died after he figured in an accident allegedly caused by the unrestored diggings of Metropolitan Cebu Water District. The water district had extended financial help to the family of the victim. (FREEMAN)