BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas has approved a deadline extension for telecommunications and cable companies to relocate their overhead utility cables along Calle Real, public plazas, and other critical areas of the city.
Originally set to expire today, the deadline has now been moved to the end of December 2024, following formal extension requests from PLDT, Cable Star, and Globe.
Despite granting this extension, Treñas underscored that it will be the final deadline and issued a stern warning to firms failing to comply.
“For those companies that have not submitted a request or shown any intention to comply, I will take decisive action,” he said, emphasizing the city’s resolve to tackle the issue of tangled “spaghetti wires” to improve urban aesthetics and ensure public safety.
Treñas reiterated that December 16, 2024, remains the non-negotiable deadline for firms that did not request an extension to remove wires and poles along Calle Real as part of the city’s underground cabling project.
“This is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that Calle Real remains a symbol of Iloilo City’s progress and history. Companies are expected to comply with this deadline as no further extensions will be granted,” Treñas said.
The underground cabling initiative is a key component of Iloilo City’s broader urban development and heritage preservation efforts, aimed at safeguarding public spaces while enhancing their visual appeal.
Treñas has issued a stern directive to the City Engineer’s Office to dismantle wires and poles of telecommunications companies failing to comply with the deadline for the underground cabling project along Calle Real.
“Non-compliance will not be tolerated. This city will not be held hostage by delays or neglect. Calle Real is a symbol of Iloilo’s rich history and progress, and we owe it to our people to see this project through,” said Treñas.
The mayor called on all concerned companies to fulfill their obligations promptly, emphasizing the importance of cooperation to achieve shared goals for a more beautiful and modern Iloilo City.
“Let this serve as a firm reminder that the City Government is serious about this project. Failure to comply will result in immediate action from my office,” Treñas warned.
Treñas stressed the importance of compliance with Regulation Ordinance No. 2023-006, which mandates the underground relocation of utility wires along Aquino Avenue, including the historic Calle Real.
He noted that part of Iloilo City’s efforts to enhance urban aesthetics and preserve its heritage as the deadline for clearing operations along Calle Real.
Treñas recently issued a directive to telecommunications and cable companies to remove tangled utility wires in Calle Real, public plazas, and other key areas of the city.
He expressed frustration over the hazardous and unsightly state of these wires, which detract from Iloilo’s iconic landmarks.
“Let us work together to create a safer, more beautiful, and progressive Iloilo City that we can all take pride in,” Treñas appealed, urging all stakeholders to cooperate and support the project.
The mayor warned utility providers that failure to meet the deadline will prompt decisive action by the City Engineer’s Office, including cutting down overhead wires and removing utility poles.
“We will give them several days, and after that, we will cut all their wires and pull down their poles. We can be very patient at some time,” he cautioned.
The ordinance, authored by Councilor Romel Duron, requires the underground relocation of wires in plaza complexes, heritage sites, and selected thoroughfares.
Utility companies have 240 days from the full implementation of the ordinance to comply, with violators facing a P5,000 fine after three notices and potential cancellation of permits after a fourth notice.
To ensure compliance, the city established Task Force Alambre, which conducts inspections of underground installations based on the Philippine Electrical Code and other relevant laws.
“We will strictly implement this law to protect our city’s heritage and improve urban aesthetics. Non-compliance will leave us no choice but to act unilaterally to ensure progress,” he stressed./PN
