Mayor urges passage of ordinance regulating ‘spaghetti’ wires

Mayor Benjamin Magalong is urging the city council to adopt an ordinance that will regulate the so-called “spaghetti” wires in the city.

The mayor said the measure should include stiff penalties for misdeeds like irresponsible laying of utility cables, poor maintenance of these fixtures and failure to comply with the standard height requirements.

He said this is the only way to correct this pesky malpractice of some utility companies and finally address the dangling, sagging and tangled wires that has been causing eyesores and public safety and nuisance issues in the city.

The mayor expressed frustration that despite aggressive corrective measures done through the dangling wire clearing campaign, no improvement can be seen in the manner and system of wire installation of most telecommunication companies.

“Cables remain unkempt, unserviceable or dead wire remain unattended as if we’re not learning. We have no recourse but to impose penalties to compel them to improve their system,” he said.

He however said that the ongoing dangling wire correction program will continue in the different parts of the city.

The city council said spaghetti wires are among the nuisance covered in City Ordinance No. 36-2024 or the Baguio City Anti-Public Nuisance Administrative Board of 2024.

The measure, authored by Councilor Jose Molintas, mandates the creation of the board which is tasked to receive complaints and declare acts as public nuisance and upon approval by the city council “petition the Regional Trial Court for permanent injunction and collect damages incurred in the implementation of the order to abate the nuisance.” – Aileen P. Refuerzo