THE Visayan Electric Company (Veco) welcomed the Cebu City Fire Department’s request for assistance in identifying dangling wires within the city’s streets, which allegedly hamper the entry of big fire trucks.
Fire Marshall Condrado Dublois earlier complained that Veco’s dangling wires, among other cable wires, prevented their fire trucks from entering the interior portion of T. Padilla street during a fire last Monday morning.
T. Padilla barangay captain Michael Ralota also sent a similar request for Veco to check the wires.
In case of fire, it is part of Veco’s standard operating procedure to automatically cut off power supply to the affected area to prevent further accidents. Electric wires are usually positioned high up on the post. Cable and other wires located at the lower portion most often cause the entanglement.
In recent years, Veco has implemented the rerouting and upgrading of power lines, particularly in congested areas in the cities with the installation of 40-foot poles for its primary lines, and 25-30 foot poles for its secondary distribution lines.
The company has also implemented the transfer of electric meters on billboard-like structures called the Elevated Meter Cluster (EMC).
Veco is continuously coordinating with telecommunication and cable companies to move the telephone and cable wires higher up the poles and for the clearing of the spaghetti wires to prevent trucks and vans from getting snagged or entangled in the wires.
Barangays within Veco’s franchise areas needing to have their dangling wires moved may send their request to the Veco Corporate Communications office or call 2308357.