Baguio City plans for underground cable system to eliminate wiring mess in downtown streets

Photo Courtesy || Public information - Baguio City

Baguio City, - In an effort to make the city streets of Baguio City more appealing, an ordinance was created  by the city local government to end the long problem of electrical and communication wires dangling over city streets of the central business district. 

The plan was supported by electrical company BENECO to transfer its electrical wirings underground to help conceal them and keep the city streets from dangling cables which becomes an eyesore to everyone.

City councilor Joel Alangsab, one of the co-author of the ordinance have said that it would take the cooperation of both the Benguet Electric Cooperative Inc. (BENECO) and local telecommunications company that runs their wiring on city streets to solve the problem of sagging wires.

He also said that a proposal for an underground cable system is one of the viable solution but pointed out that such plan will present a problem in the financial aspect.

"There is a proposal na iunderground nalang itong mga cables and electrical wirings natin, but of course, the number 1 problem there is the financial aspect. It will cost Php 2 Billion," Alangsab said.

Davao is one of the city that implemented underground cabling system in its major streets which started early this year and will be finished  by 2020.

Davao City would be a good model city for the local government of Baguio to follow. It has created and passed and ordinance that mandates all electric utility companies and public telecommunication carriers servicing the city to place all their wirings and cables underground. Companies that violates the ordinance will be fine of P5,000 and cancellation of business permit.

It can be recalled that Mayor Mauricio Domogan has ordered the City Engineering Office and City's Council's committee to conduct a feasibility study of the said underground cable system in the city last June, 2017.

Domogan said the proposal has merit as it address the messy wiring and cable networks of public utility companies that has created eyesores as well as pose safety to people.