MANILA -- The Metro Manila Council (MMC) and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) are urging all local government units in the National Capital Region to enact ordinances regulating and monitoring the installation of distribution lines to avoid dangling or “spaghetti wires”.

In a press conference after the Metro Manila Council meeting on Tuesday, MMDA acting chairman Atty. Romando Artes said they want to avoid accidents brought about by dangling wires on the streets that in some instances cause heavy traffic and fire incidents.

Metro Manila Council president and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora made the proposal to the MMC to have a resolution encouraging all LGUs in NCR to monitor the installation of distribution lines of Meralco and different Telecommunication Companies.

Zamora said, they already have their own ordinance in San Juan City regulating this and with the MMC resolution, all other LGUs are expected to enact their own ordinances.

“Ang Metro Manila Council po ay nagpasa ng isang resolusyon kung saan nagkasundo po kami na lahat ng LGUs sa Metro Manila ay magpapasa ng kanya-kanyang ordinansa patungkol sa anti-dangling wires na ito, yung spaghetti wires na tinatawag. Malaking peligro po talaga ang mga wires na nakikita natin. Ito po ay mga wires ng ating mga telcos at networks na nakakabit sa mga poste ng Meralco. Karamihan sa mga wires na ito ay useless, mga wires na hindi na gumagana at puwede nang tanggalin,” Zamora said.

Zamora cited what happened in Binondo, Manila few days ago as an example.

“Huwag na nating hintayin yung panahon na meron pang mamatay dahil d’yan. Ngayon pa lamang ay gumawa na tayo ng mga hakbang upang maiwasan ang anomang sakuna o trahedya,” Zamora added

According to Artes, they are also studying the idea of having an underground cable management.

“Kasama po sa suggestion ay yung pag-aaral kung saan dapat na po siguro ilipat sa underground yung mga wires na ito although costly siya. Pero may nagsabi na tulad Gensan at Davao ay meron nang ganito na nailipat sa ilalim ng lupa yung mga wires na kailangan naming aralin para matularan at magaya dito sa Metro Manila,” Artes said.

Present during the MMC meeting according to Artes, include representatives from Meralco and different telecom companies.

When asked who will be held liable in case there is a violation to LGUs ordinance, Artes said, it will be Meralco who owns posts.

“Ang may-ari po kasi ng poste ay Meralco so kanila din magpapaalam although sinasabi nila na marami dun sa wires na yung ay unauthorized kaya po sa mga individual ordinance, i-a-address po yan. Per poste bibigyan lang po ng specific number, depende po sa carrying capacity- hanggang 10 wire lang. Meralco po kasi sila po may-ari ng poste, sa kanila po binigay yung permit,”

Artes said, these challenges include having power interruptions or lost of internet connections everytime there will be operation to remove dangling wires.

He admits that these scenario of having dangling wires on the streets or overloaded poles are almost everywhere in NCR.