Mayor asks council to expedite approval of anti-dangling wire measure

Mayor Benjamin Magalong urged the city council to fast-track the approval of the “Anti-Dangling Wire” ordinance that would mandate all public utility and telecommunication companies to implement a hard disconnection policy on their utility cables and wires.

The mayor said the lack of such policy continues to hamper the city’s ongoing program to put to rights dangling, sagging, tangled and unsightly public utility wires in the city as most companies do not have dedicated teams to clear their unserviceable wires and other infrastructure.

The clearing program was meant to address public safety and nuisance issues caused by these so-called spaghetti wires.

Because of the mayor’s persistence, one company, the Philippine Long Distance Telecommunications (PLDT) responded positively and assigned a team to remove dead wires. However, other companies have not followed suit.

He said to institute the policy, the city council should immediately adopt the pending proposed ordinance which will also provide penalties for those who will not comply.

The proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Vladimir Cayabas mandating the proper installation, maintenance, and removal of hazardous dangling wires within the city has been endorsed to the committee on public utilities, transportation and traffic legislation for recommendation on second reading after publication.

Cayabas said the measure aims to protect life and property by eliminating dangerous hanging or loose utility wires that could cause accidents and enhance the city’s aesthetics by addressing what it calls “visual and aerial pollution.”

“These so-called spaghetti wires are serious threats to the safety of residents, and are also unpleasant and offensive to the eyes,” Cayabas stated.

The councilor said the city government had previously tackled the issue through city council resolutions, executive orders, and memoranda, emphasizing its attempts to coordinate with utility providers to clean up their installations. However, he claimed that these measures lacked the enforceability necessary to produce sustained results, hence the need for an ordinance that penalizes negligent utility companies and mandates more proactive action.

Under the ordinance, an Anti-Dangling Wire Committee will be formed and tasked with setting the overall direction, standards, and coordination mechanisms for implementation. The Committee will be headed by the mayor and composed of representatives from city government offices, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), telecommunications companies, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

An Anti-Dangling Wire Task Force will also be created to serve as the operational arm of the ordinance. The Task Force will handle on-the-ground enforcement and technical implementation. Headed by the Public Order and Safety Division (POSD), the Task Force will be tasked with enforcement, inspection, and coordination.

The ordinance prescribes penalties for utility companies that allow or fail to remove hazardous dangling wires. A company found in violation will be fined P2,000 for the first offense, P3,500 for the second, and P5,000 for the third.

Repeated or willful non-compliance may result in the revocation of their permit to operate within the city.Upon the enactment of the ordinance, all affected utility companies will be given a six-month compliance period to correct their violations. – Aileen P. Refuerzo and Jordan G. Habbiling