Telecommunications and power service providers have deployed teams to fix and remove the hazardous and nuisance “spaghetti wires” along this city’s major thoroughfares starting Saturday.

This weekend, the operations began along San Juan Street, a part of the downtown, where several business establishments are located.

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the clearing work will be conducted five days each week: Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

“We will do away with Mondays and Fridays because of the traffic volume on those days,” he added.

Benitez said teams comprised of about 20 people each are tasked to remove the entangled wires to ensure that there is no traffic obstruction and disruption of telephone, internet, and power services.

The mayor thanked the various telecommunications companies, the Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Bacolod Traffic Authority Office, and other concerned departments for their cooperation.

Before the launch of the clearing operations, he met with the representatives of telephone and internet and cable television service providers, and local power distribution utility to address the “spaghetti” wires problem.

Some 90 percent of these wires are considered damaged and no longer functional, based on the city’s survey.

Benitez said not only the entangled wires will be removed, but also the redundant electrical poles being used for other service connections.

In Executive Order (EO) 3, the mayor has ordered the removal, clearing, and reorganizing of all “spaghetti” wires located in the main streets, sidewalks, alleys, and public places.

These wires include those abandoned, damaged and not being used, which have become an eyesore due to being messy, entangled, and disorganized.

Being a nuisance, these could cause injury or endanger the health and safety of the public and obstruct or interfere with free passages of any public highway or street, EO 3 stated. (PNA)