The relocation of electrical and telecommunication cables underground in Bacolod City is being mulled jointly by the Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power) and Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.
This strategic move aligns with the mayor’s vision to elevate Bacolod into a “world-class super city,” a statement from Negros Power said.
The proposed project entails the underground placement of all cables along Lacson Street, encompassing telecommunication and power lines.
The implementation will leverage horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology, enabling conduit installation with minimal surface disruption, thereby reducing traffic disturbances and ensuring pedestrian safety.
Benitez and Engr. Bernard Bailey del Castillo, vice president for network development and operations of More Power Iloilo, recently met and discussed on how to go about it.
The mayor had expressed his displeasure with the current visible network of overhead cables often described as “spaghetti wires,” which he perceives as unsightly.
The underground wiring endeavor, according to Negros Power, aims to rectify this issue and enhance the visual aesthetics of the urban landscape.
During the meeting, Del Castillo said that the forthcoming underground cables will be custom-designed for subterranean settings, offering enhanced heat resistance and waterproofing properties compared to the current above-ground wires.
Despite a marginal increase in cable costs by about 2.5 percent, the overall expenditure is projected to be approximately ten-fold higher than the existing overhead system, owing to the efficiency of the HDD machine.
Additionally, they aim to synchronize the installation of underground conduits with various telecommunications companies, enabling shared infrastructure usage to minimize expenses for each company.
In preparation for the project, Benitez and Del Castillo deliberated on the necessity of a city ordinance to establish the project’s legal framework and secure approval from the Energy Regulatory Commission. ||
