ILOILO – Electric and telecommunications posts in the middle of widened national highways and provincial roads are hazardous to public welfare and must be removed, according to Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
Defensor is seeking a meeting with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6, telecommunication companies and power distribution utilities Iloilo Electric Cooperatives I, II and III to address this concern.
These posts are eyesores, too, said the governor.
“Kita mo ang poste sa aton highways tag-apat, apat sila, buot silingon tiko, law-ay. So we want to address the problem of the obstructing posts,” said Defensor.
The governor wants to hasten the removal of these posts, adding that he does not want the situation to reach a point when telecommunication companies and power distribution utilities will be pointing fingers.
“How do we rationalize the poles sang mga telcos kay right now we should address them. Mas gusto naton nga mas nami (roads) before it’s too late,” Defensor added.
The governor suggested that, during road widening, the ideal thing to do is to install new posts in designated areas instead of just removing or relocating the old posts beside the road.
Defensor further stressed that the removal of the obstructing posts is part of road clearing under Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 085 of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Under MC No. 085, here are the guidelines of the road clearing operations:
* Local government units (LGUs) are directed to conduct regular road clearing operations in all local roads under their jurisdiction.
* LGUs may also conduct road clearing operations in national roads, which will be undertaken in coordination with the national government agency concerned with the management of the said road, such as the DPWH, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
* Road clearing operations will be conducted on the existing road right-of-way, which will include the sidewalk, road shoulders, and the travelway. This memorandum circular will not be construed as an authority to conduct road widening projects.
* No encroachment or obstruction which are part of any building or permanent structure may be removed without due notice to the owner thereof.
* This memorandum circular will not be used as basis for the eviction of persons or demolition of dwellings not otherwise encroaching sidewalks or roads, which shall be governed by the provisions of Republic Act No. 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992.
* The memorandum circular will not be used to violate the property rights of homeless persons without just and valid causes.
* To ensure the continued conveyance of electricity, no electric pole shall be removed by LGUs under this memorandum circular without due coordination with the operator/owner thereof.
* Obstructing electric poles may only be relocated following proper arrangement with the operator/owner of the said poles.
* In cases where the obstruction caused by the electric pole poses imminent danger, the LGU concerned will ensure that warning is provided to oncoming motorists and pedestrians pending the pole’s relocation.
* Obstructing trees may be removed by the LGU in accordance with the rules and requirements imposed by the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources.
For the part of the provincial government, Defensor said they are always ready to extend assistance during road clearing operations like personnel and equipment to hasten the removal of posts./PN
