1,600 electrical poles now obstructing NCR streets due to road-widening projects

At least 1,600 electrical utility poles are now obstructing traffic in Metro Manila because they were not moved when the roads were widened, according to a report by Tina Panganiban Perez on “24 Oras.”

In the report, distribution utility Meralco said it is often only belatedly informed of road-widening projects that would necessitate the transfer of its poles.

“Kung walang sidewalk 'yung design, ibig sabihin sinagad 'yung road widening, at kailangan i-reroute 'yung service wires namin. Doon rin nagkakaroon ng kaunting delay,” the company's public information head Joe Zaldarriaga said.

“'Yung utility corridor or 'yung exact location...'di agad nasasabi sa amin. Kumbaga minsan nauuna 'yung proyekto bago kami minsan maabisuhan na 'yun pala nagawa na 'yung project,” he added.

The Department of Public Works and Highwats (DPWH)-NCR, however, denied this.

“Bago kami mag-road widening, nilalagay na namin sa plano kung saan 'yung mga poste at ilan ang poste na affected at sina-submit namin 'yun sa, kino-coordinate namin sa Meralco,” said regional director Melvin Navarro.

Meralco and the DPWH, however, vowed that they will take action on these road hazards.

Under the National Electric Administration Reform Act of 2013, the government would have to pay the electric cooperatives for every electrical pole displaced by the government's infrastructure projects.

A joint circular between the DPWH and Energy department inked last year, on the other hand, provides a deduction of 10 percent of the relocation cost for electric cooperatives for each day that the transfer of the poles is delayed.

This provision, however, cannot apply to Meralco since it is a private entity.

To report electrical poles obstructing the road, people may call Meralco at 16211 or the DPWH at 16502. — Llanesca T. Panti/BM, GMA News