ILOILO City –This southern city has made history as the first in the Visayas to have implemented a local government unit-public utilities initiated underground cabling.
Through the visionary leadership of Mayor Jerry Treñas, the historic Calle Real is now free from unsightly “spaghetti” or tangled wires, exuding a more visually stunning and more functional urban area.
“This is part of our strong commitment to urban development and maintaining the city’s cultural landmarks. We have faced challenges in line with this initiative, but I am glad that we were able to pull it through. We hope to inspire other cities to undertake similar projects,” said Treñas.
Iloilo City Regulation Ordinance 2023-006, which took effect on March 13, 2023, mandates all public electricity companies and public telecommunication carriers and other similar entities to place underground all wires and cables within the confines of all plaza complexes, Sunburst Park, B.S. Aquino Avenue, and all heritage sites in the city including Calle Real or the city’s old Central Business District (CBD).
The old CBD, known for its well-preserved colonial-era buildings, is also identified as one of the important sites here that must be preserved under Republic Act 10555, a Heritage Law championed by Treñas when he was a congressman.
The underground cabling in the iconic street was realized through a collaboration with the city’s sole power distributor, MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), and various telecommunication companies, a testament to the power of political will and the benefits of strong partnership between the city government and the private sector.
The project has garnered praise from residents and visitors alike. With its vibrant atmosphere, the Calle Real has become more conducive and appealing to the public, including vendors, shoppers, and tourists.
The enhanced aesthetic has not only beautified the street but also made it a more attractive destination for visitors, boosting local tourism and commerce.
“The transformation of Calle Real serves as an inspiring example of what can be achieved through political determination and effective partnerships, especially benefiting the community,” the city mayor added.
To note, MORE Power was the first one to start off the project in a bid also to improve its distribution system.
Its Hybrid Underground Distribution System (HUDS) has likewise been a subject for benchmarking visits by other local government units like Muntinlupa City whose officials visited Iloilo City to gain insights into the project.
“It’s something that other cities aim to achieve as well. The nuisance and eyesore caused by overhead wires — especially the electrical wires, in addition to telecom lines — have become a perennial problem. Addressing this will truly contribute to the overall beautification of the city. This is a commendable initiative that the City of Muntinlupa would also like to emulate,” said Engr. Romar U. Dagupan, assistant city engineer of Muntinlupa City.
As Iloilo City continues to grow and develop, the success of this project sets a precedent for future initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life for its residents.
Moreover, the underground cabling project is also seen to complement the previous and the ongoing development initiatives of the city government.
To complement and to fully implement RA 10555, the city government has carried out the full rehabilitation of public plazas such as Plaza Libertad in City Proper and the plazas of Jaro, Molo, Arevalo as well as in La Paz and Mandurriao districts.
Also, in line with the development of the city’s old CBD, the historic “Sunburst” Park was also restored through the help of Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), and the efforts of Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon.
The city government with Drilon also shared the vision to relive the past beauty of the historic Fort San Pedro.
Moreover, the city is currently redeveloping its public markets including the two biggest ones –the Iloilo Central and Terminal markets.
Aside from the infrastructure projects, the city government also continues to take initiatives in sustaining the environmental needs of the metropolis for the benefit of the people.
On top of the priorities is the proposed Tree Park Network Project which will establish eco-forests in three districts namely: Iloilo Tree Park in Lanit, Jaro; Beach Forest in Boulevard, Molo; and Mangrove Eco-park in Hinactacan, La Paz.
Treñas, aside from providing additional recreational facilities for the public and opportunities to bring people closer to nature to support efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the tree park project also aims to help mitigate the effects of climate change and restore biodiversity in the city./PN
