Electrical meters with countless electrical wires hanging near residences in Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City on February 19, 2019. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File  

MANILA – A measure seeking to clear streets of overhead cables that are dangling and unused has been filed at the House of Representatives.

Bulacan 6th District Rep. Salvador Pleyto filed House Bill 10427, which seeks to mandate telecommunications, cable and internet providers to mend dangling wires and remove non-operational overhead wires and cables. 

“The presence of non-operational overhead cable TV and telephone wires hanging precariously from poles, trees and high-rise structures has become a significant nuisance, not only because of its unsightly appearance, but primarily because of the conceivable accident it may cause,” Pleyto said in his explanatory note.

Under the measure, public utility providers will have to bundle up sagging and dangling aerial utility wires, remove all non-operational or unused wires and cables, and relocate or replace posts to adhere with the specified allowable clearance for aerial wires and cables.

The bill authorizes local governments to withhold or cancel the permits of providers that will fail to comply.

“This perennial problem has been the subject of many city and municipal ordinances, which call for the clearing of overhead cables crisscrossing the streets and avenues. However, despite the ordinances, the unsightly scene persists,” Pleyto said.

“The approval of this measure is earnestly sought to address the long overdue issue of dangling and sagging wires,” he added.

Meralco welcomed the measure, saying it was one with the government in advocating for public safety. Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe Zaldarriaga noted that the power distribution firm has ramped up efforts to fix sagging wires, remove illegal wire attachments and conduct pole-clearing operations. Meralco targets to complete the work on more than half of its identified areas by the end of the year.

“Lahat ng mga lugar na napansin namin na talagang kailangan tanggalin ang mga linya at ayusin, ay ginagawa natin. In fact, there were instances na pati ‘yung mga telco facilities o internet facilities na napuputol because of our operations, we had to do it because at the end of the day, those are our poles. So we continue with the process. We’d like to tell the public that we will continue with this campaign, at we welcome the measure that is emanating from government, that will mandate and make it stricter for those that have responsibility over these facilities,” Zaldarriaga told the media in an interview.

He also appealed to other public utility providers, "Magpaalam muna. Bigyan muna kami ng information kung magsasampay sila ng kanilang mga linya."

"Hindi pwede ‘yung basta ka na lang magkakabit dyan without informing us. That is illegal. Aside from informing us, secure a permit from the local government. Hindi ‘yung ilalatag lang, tapos ‘yung iba iniiwanan,” he said.

Telecommunication company PLDT said that it conducts a cleanup drive, which includes the recovery of old cables that are no longer needed in areas where customers have upgraded to fiber.

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The Metro Manila Council will discuss in its next meeting measures against dangling wires, said its president, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora. 

“I will support that dahil nakita ko po ang kahalagahan nyan dito sa San Juan, upang siguraduhing makaiwas tayo sa mga sakuna, sa sunog, sa mga aksidente, dahil karamihan sa wires na ‘yan ay hindi na rin gumagana. Pero ang nangyayari, minsan pinapabayaan lang… at kung may kailangang bagong wire ay ipinatong na lang o idinadagdag kaya pabigat nang pabigat ‘yung wires na ‘yan. Maaaring ‘yung mga poste natin, pagdating ng panahon ay mahirapan, biglang bumagsak, maging sanhi pa ‘yan ng aksidente o sunog,” Zamora said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.