Mayors in Metro Manila have agreed to make a new policy to regulate and monitor the installation and maintenance of distribution lines and get rid of dangling wires or the so-called “spaghetti” cables over streets in the National Capital Region (NCR).
The mayors composing the Metro Manila Council (MMC) gave the preliminary approval to a resolution urging the local government units (LGU) in the region to enact an ordinance that will regulate and monitor the installation and maintenance of distribution lines, and remove dangling wires and disorganized cables over streets.
Lawyer Romando Artes, acting chairperson of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), stated that dangling wires, overloaded poles, and disorganized placement of distribution wires along NCR streets have not only become eyesores, but also pose a danger to the lives and properties of the general public.
The MMC, composed of the 17 mayors in NCR, is the governing board and policy-making body of the MMDA.
In a meeting with MMC, Manila Electric Company (Meralco) officials raised the difficulty in identifying non-operational wires and expressed their challenges, including temporary service disruptions that lead to complaints from affected residents.
Before the cleanup, an information campaign will be launched to warn the residents of any potential service disruptions when dangling wires and disorganized cables are removed.
According to MMDA Resolution 24-16 Series of 2024, the disorganized distribution of wires is a common sight in Metro Manila, marring the cityscape and posing a serious threat to public safety.
MMC chairperson and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora mentioned that some wires attached to the poles are non-operational and should be removed.
He suggested that each LGU pass their own ordinances to regulate and monitor wires and cables to prevent accidents, citing the implementation of San Juan City’s “Anti-Dangling Wire Task Force Ordinance” since 2020.
Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval thanked Artes for addressing the recent malfunction of the Malabon-Navotas navigational gate due to mechanical problems.
More than just repairing the damage, Artes emphasized the need for a permanent solution to address the flood problem in the city, in collaboration with the local government.
