House bill seeks to rid major roads of ‘spaghetti wires’

Spaghetti wires are seen here being removed at San Juan Street in Bacolod City in this file photo taken in July 2022. (Photo courtesy of Ronnie Baldonado)

A lawmaker has filed a measure to get rid of dangerous crisscrossing overhead cables or so-called “spaghetti wires” on major thoroughfares nationwide.

Under Bulacan Rep. Salvador Pleyto Sr.’s House Bill No. 10427 or the proposed “Anti-Dangling Wires Act of 2024,” public utility providers will be responsible for tidying up the unsightly wires. Those who fail to comply may have their local government-issued operating permits withheld or canceled.

“The presence of nonoperational overhead cable TV and telephone wires hanging precariously from poles, trees and high-rise structures has become a significant nuisance, not only because of its unsightly appearance but primarily because of the conceivable accident it may cause,” Pleyto said.

‘Unsightly scene’

He added that the “perennial problem” has long been the subject of city and town ordinances nationwide.

“However, despite the ordinances, the unsightly scene persists,” he said, pointing out that addressing the issue was long overdue.

HB 10427, referred to the House committee on public works and highways, would require all power, telecommunications, cable and internet providers to bundle up dangling cable, remove all unused wires, and relocate or replace posts following the specified allowable clearance for overhead cables and wires.

It also tasks local government units to ensure that public utility providers comply with the provisions of the measure by withholding or canceling the permits of violators.

The draft measure taps the National Telecommunications Commission, Department of Information and Communications Technology, and Department of the Interior and Local Government to craft the implementing guidelines.

At least three other measures, HBs 1399, 6487, and 7069, seek to move all aerial cables and wires underground along the country’s major roads. However, these are all still pending review by the House committees on information and communications, as well as public works and highways.