DPWH, Meralco vow to remove ‘hazardous’ electric posts in the middle of roads

After a botched road-widening project in Pulilan, Bulacan drew flak online, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) vowed to remove "hazardous" electric posts obstructing roads in Metro Manila.

Last week, netizens slammed a road-widening project in Barangay Balatong, Pulilan, Bulacan for having several electric posts in the middle of a lane.

According to a report on GMA News TV's Balitanghali on Tuesday by Tina Panganiban-Perez, the placement of electric posts is also a problem along several newly-widened roads in Metro Manila, including C3 Road, Agham Road and Visayas Avenue, a Mabuhay lane.

In Metro Manila, at least 1,600 of over 2,800 of Meralco's electric posts affected by road projects have yet to be transferred. 

Stakeholders have been urged to transfer these posts because they could be potential hazards to motorists, especially those unfamiliar with the area.

"'Yung mga ganyan, mga naiwan na poste, 'yung mga punong kahoy na naiiwan, obstruction 'yan, hazard 'yan," said Engineer Alberto Suansing, secretary general of the Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership.

"Ang nangyari diyan, while may budget, as far as road widening is concerned, 'pag tinamaan 'yung poste, kailangan ilipat mo 'yung poste. So right of way 'yan. Mag-a-acquire ka ng private property para mailipat mo 'yung poste," he added.

The DPWH-National Capital Region maintained that proper planning was executed for each road widening project.

DPWH-NCP Regional Director Melvin Navarro also said they have been coordinating with Meralco regarding affected electric posts.

"Kung walang sidewalk 'yung design, ibig sabihin, sinagad 'yung road widening, at kailangan i-reroute 'yung service wires namin. Doon din nagkakaroon ng kaunting delay," he said.

"Bago kami mag-road windening, 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," Navarro said.

Meralco, on the other hand, said affected posts would have been transferred right away if they had been reported immediately.

"'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," Joe Zaldarriaga, head of Meralco's public information office, said.

"As far as Meralco is concerned, as long as it is brought to our attention, we will work it out immediately," he added. 

Obstructive electric posts may be reported to the DPWH hotline at 16502 and Meralco at 16211. —Margaret Claire Layug/KG, GMA News