CDO removes 97-km of dead wires, cables from electric poles

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY--A joint task force composed of government agencies and private organizations said it has collected more than 97 kilometers of dead wires and cables from the city main thoroughfares in just a month.

Based on its month-end report, "Hapsay Kable" said the removed dead wires and cables were replaced with newer ones.

Around 53 old poles and alley arms installed by telecommunications companies and were mostly made of wood were also removed.

The operations started last April of this year. The task force said it is now 88.24 percent of its target for clearing as of May 30.

“Hapsay Kable,” roughly translated as “to put cables in order,” is a joint initiative of the local government and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in Region 10, in coordination with such private utility companies as the Cagayan de Oro Power and Light Company (Cepalco), the Misamis Oriental Telephone Company (Misortel), Globe and Smart-PLDT.

The task force’s co-chair, NTC regional director Teodoro Buenavista Jr., said the next step was to recycle the collected cables and the local government was tasked to find partner organizations to work on it.

“We duscussed the disposal of the retrieved wires and cables. City Administrator Teddy Sabuga-a is going to offer it to a certain NGO or maybe two NGOs (Non-government Organizations) for recycling them into waste baskets and maybe be more,” Buenavista said.

Buenavista also said that the establishment of an underground cable system is already being discussed by stakeholders. This means that in the future, most - if not all - cable lines will no longer be put up on posts but will be placed underground, like most foreign countries do for many decades now.

"We call that as "Project Velez." The underground system is doable for cables and wires on that street," he added, also saying that Misortel already has that kind of facility. (Nef Luczon/PNA)