PLDT backs underground cabling efforts

Telco giant PLDT Inc. is encouraging local governments to emulate Davao City’s policy of placing electrical lines underground to keep infrastructure assets safe from natural and manmade risks.

PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. threw its support to the efforts of the Davao City government to place all overhead wirings below ground.

According to PLDT, the local government made the right move in implementing the policy as it enhances the city’s physical landscape by removing hazardous cables suspended in the air.

In 2017, Davao City issued a local ordinance that formalized its underground cabling project. The directive mandated telco providers and Davao Light and Power Co. to convert all of their overhead lines to an underground system.

PLDT head of Davao zone Melvin Lacuna said the initiative paved the way for Davao City to attract investors and tourists.

“In addition to boosting city government efforts at attracting tourists and investors by eliminating unsightly wires, putting cables underground is also aligned with PLDT and Smart’s initiatives to improve and maintain our network across the country,” Lacuna said.

“As this also helps make our network safer and more secure, we will continue to support Davao City’s business development plan and help improve the lives of Davaoeños,” he added.

The underground cabling project started in 2018, starting with C.M. Recto Street, city hall, and Sangguniang Panlungsod. It is now clearing Ponciano, Bonifacio, and Pelayo Streets as well as Quirino Avenue of overhead wirings.

The telco giant is also backing similar projects in other cities including Baguio, Cebu, Bacolod and Cagayan de Oro.

PLDT manages the most extensive fiber infrastructure in the Philippines, spanning at least 1.09 million kilometers and supporting the connectivity demands of all of its subscribers, including Smart that covers around 97 percent of the population as of end September.

Fiber specialist Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is also urging the government to pursue a joint use mechanism for telco infrastructure, wherein connectivity providers can lay down their underground pipes in ongoing road projects.

Through this, Converge said telco players could save up on the cost of digging up roads again just to install underground cables and would discourage them from placing aerial cables that are easily destroyed by typhoons.