Cebu City officials have started a project that will have a “real impact” that will “pave for a more modern and progressive future.”
CEBU City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia examines a heavy equipment for the city’s underground cabling project. (MyTVCebu)
Mayor Raymond Garcia on Monday, March 3, led the groundbreaking ceremony for the city’s underground cabling project.
The project aims to get rid of the low-hanging wires or the so-called spaghetti wires in major thoroughfares.
“This groundbreaking ceremony is not just a symbolic act; it is the moment we breathe life into this ordinance, giving it real impact on our city and its future,” Garcia said.
Councilor Jerry Guardo pushed for the enforcement of City Ordinance No. 2750 that mandates the relocation of electrical and telecommunication wires underground.
The ordinance was passed in August 2024. It prioritizes the underground installation of cables on major roads such as Sergio Osmeña Sr. Boulevard, Colon St., Gorordo Ave., and N. Bacalso Ave.
“For far too long, we have seen a tangled web of overhead wires crisscrossing our streets, obstructing our view of the beauty of our heritage sites, and even posing hazards to safety and efficiency,” Garcia said.
Guardo disclosed that data last year showed that 60 percent of existing telecommunications wires in Cebu City are inactive.
Officials believe that the ordinance will not only help beautify Cebu City but it also reduce blackouts caused by storms and accidents.
“What we are doing today is not just about decluttering our streets; it is about reclaiming the beauty of Cebu City, preserving its rich history, and at the same time, ushering it into a more modern and progressive future," Garcia said.
The project will be implemented via a public-private partnership in which the contractor will be responsible for funding, installing, and maintaining the underground network.