Improved coordination between telcos, LGUs needed vs 'spaghetti wires' — Mayor Nancy
Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay emphasized that local government units (LGUs) and telecommunication (telco) operators need to work together more closely to ensure that cables are installed safely and neatly on electric posts, preventing the messy and dangerous dangling "spaghetti wires" in Metro Manila.
During Meralco's anti-dangling wires operation in Makati on Wednesday, Aug. 27, Binay emphasized that telcos should first secure permits and approval from the concerned offices of the city government before conducting their cable installations.
"Napakahalaga nung coordination with the barangay officials, city hall officials, at siyempre ng Meralco na talagang nababantayan na hindi magkakabit ng walang pasintabi ang mga telco (Coordination with barangay officials, city hall officials, and of course Meralco is very important as they are the ones who will monitor the cable installations to ensure that telcos do not install the wires haphazardly)," Binay said.
In May last year, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) passed a resolution urging LGUs in the National Capital Region (NCR) to issue ordinances against dangling and tangled wires.
According to MMDA Resolution Number 24-16, Series of 2024, NCR cities are urged to “enact and adopt an ordinance regulating and monitoring the construction, installation, and maintenance of distribution lines and other appurtenant structures and assemblies of public utilities within their jurisdiction territory.”
"Ito po ay mga wires ng ating mga telco [telecommunication] companies at networks na nakakabit doon sa mga poste ng Meralco at paglipas ng mga panahon, minsan dekada pa, ay talagang nagpapatung-patong na (These are old, sometimes decades-old wires of telco companies and networks installed on Meralco posts, which have accumulated through the years and became tangled)," MMC President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said.
He added that LGUs may also conduct tracing and removal of unused telecom and electric wires, as well as limit the number of allowed wires per post.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Don Artes also noted that each LGU will have its own way of implementing the ordinance, as well as setting the penalties for individuals and companies who will not comply.