DAVAO LIGHT AND POWER CO., INC. (Davao Light), an AboitizPower distribution unit, has completed underground cabling activities along C.M. Recto Street in Davao City, from the intersection with San Pedro Street to the intersection with Ramon Magsaysay Avenue.
“The underground cabling along C.M. Recto Street is now fully energized with all customers in the area connected. We finished removing power lines, distribution transformers, 64 Davao Light poles, and energized the street lights in the area. We reached 100 percent completion progress just in time for the 36th Kadayawan sa Davao, making this an even more meaningful feat for the city,”
Engr. Enriczar Tia, Assistant Vice-President, Technical Support for Engineering said.
This is the city’s second underground cabling project, following the first, which was completed in 2016 around Davao City Hall and the Sangguniang Panlungsod in accordance with City Ordinance 0177-14, Series of 2014.
Because electric wires are now placed underground, one of the long-term effects of underground cabling is a lower incidence of emergency power outages. This is an effort to improve customer service while also strengthening the power distribution network’s resilience and reliability.
The first of five phases of the project is the underground cabling in C.M. Recto Street, which began in 2018. The second phase, which runs from City Hall Drive to the corner of Quirino Avenue, is currently at a 27 percent completion rate, with civil construction such as manhole installation and pipe laying still ongoing.
These phases of the project, like the project implementation around City Hall, encountered numerous challenges such as inclement weather, traffic, and concerns about right-of-way. Davao Light and other telecommunications companies are working closely together to ensure that the project is completed efficiently and quickly.
“Together with the City Engineer’s Office who is spearheading the underground cabling project, we meet regularly to lay down plans, discuss schedules and solve issues,”
Tia shared.
Active coordination is also taking place with the Department of Public Works and Highways, the City Transport and Traffic Management Office, the Davao City Water District, and other affected stakeholders.
“We ask for the continued support and understanding of our fellow Davaoeños as we carry out the project of our city in support of the mandate from our LGU. Rest assured that we are doing our best to mitigate the inconveniences, and ensure the safety of the public and the workers,”
Tia added.
The City Government of Davao’s underground cabling plan, as mandated by City Ordinance 0152-17, Series of 2017, requires all telecommunication companies, Davao Light, and all other persons to comply.
Converting overhead electrical and telecommunication wires to an underground system will result in more visually appealing, safer main city streets and better customer service.
“WIRELESS AVENUE”
C.M. is now completely “Wireless.” Recto (Claveria) Avenue in Davao City now has no more power cables or spaghetti wires after several months of work by the City Government of Davao, Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC), and telecommunication companies on the Underground Cabling Project.
It will be remembered that in 2015, Magallanes Street, around City Hall and San Pedro Street, was subjected to Phase 1 of the Underground Cabling Project, followed by Phase 2 of the project and C.M. Recto Avenue.
According to the plan, the portion of San Pedro Street, Magsaysay Avenue, and Quirino Avenue will be the next streets to be covered by the Underground Cabling Project.
Some netizens lauded the project, which Davao City is also the first Local Government Unit (LGU) in the Philippines to implement.
DAVAO LIGHT COMPLETES UNDERGROUND CABLING WORK IN C.M. RECTO
“The underground cabling along C.M. Recto Street is now fully energized with all customers in the area connected. We finished removing power lines, distribution transformers, 64 Davao Light poles, and energized the street lights in the area. We reached 100% percent completion progress just in time for the 36th Kadayawan sa Davao, making this an even more meaningful feat for the city,”
Engr. Enriczar Tia, Assistant Vice-President, Technical Support for Engineering said.
This is the city’s second underground cabling project, with the first completed in 2016 in the vicinity of Davao City Hall and Sangguniang Panlungsod in accordance with City Ordinance No. 0177-14, Series of 2014.
