
“Spaghetti Wires” Could be a Thing of the Past with New Legislation
The sad reality is that these unsightly cables, nicknamed “spaghetti wires”, seem to have become a staple of living in the Philippines. In some areas, it’s so bad, that they almost reach the ground and pose a serious threat to passers-by.
Earlier this year, the issue of spaghetti wires came under the radar of Senator Raffy Tulfo. Several people complained to him via his public service program due to dangling wires along EDSA. He mentioned that nobody is actively regulating these cables. Once a wire is no longer in use, they just leave it there.
According to Tulfo, these utility providers just keep on adding wires upon wires. The worst part is that some give an excuse that they cannot just remove the useless and abandoned wires because “it’s not theirs”.
Legislation to Mandate Accountability
“There is a clear lack of accountability on the telcos and the government regulating agencies. We have to determine whose liability is this — the local government unit, Department of Public Works and Highways, the telcos, or electric distribution companies?” said Tulfo.
Senator Tulfo raises a good point. Accountability needs to be clear. That is why Bulacan Representative Salvador Pleyto Sr’s proposed bill addressing these spaghetti wires is a welcome development.
House Bill No. 10427, or the proposed “Anti-Dangling Wires Act of 2024”, mandates public utility providers to be responsible for tidying up these dangerous cables. Under this law, those who fail to comply could possible have their government-issued operating permits withheld or cancelled.
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A Concerted Effort
The bill is rapidly gaining support. The Metro Manila Council (MMC) approved a resolution calling for the regulation and monitoring of these utility lines in the National Capital Region ((NCR). In their resolution, they urge all local government units (LGUs) in the NCR to pass an ordinance for the control and maintenance of these wires.
Even public utility providers have all expressed support, and are committed to work with the government to clean up these spaghetti wires.
This House Bill needs to be passed. What is lacking is this concerted effort to address decades of non-existent public planning.
An Issue of Political Will
There are some places in the Metro, like the upscale Bonifacio Global City (BGC), where these utility wires are taken into consideration. If you’ll notice, there are zero wires in the BGC skyline – everything is underground and kept out of sight. We have the technology to do it. What is missing, is political will.
Imagine a Metro Manila without spaghetti wires, where you have a clear, unobstructed view of the sky. No visual clutter, no danger. It is doable, if we support this bill and work together in coordination with our LGUs. We can also plan accordingly for the accompanying power and connection outages. All of this will be a small price to pay for our safety and the improvement in the appearance of our streets and building facades.