By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas announced on Monday, Jan. 13, that the deadline for the underground cabling of Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue (Diversion Road) has been extended by three months, moving it to April 2025.
The decision followed a meeting with public utility providers regarding the clearing of aerial cables along the 5.8-kilometer stretch of the avenue. The area runs from the intersection with General Luna Street in City Proper to the city’s boundary with Pavia at Christ the King Cemetery in Jaro district.
The original deadline of Jan. 16 was adjusted to accommodate utility providers needing additional time to complete their clearing and undergrounding operations.
“I understand that some companies may need additional time to address this matter properly. For this reason, I am granting a maximum extension of three months, or until the end of April 2025, to those who submit a formal letter of request,” Treñas stated.
If utilities fail to meet the extended deadline, the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) will step in to dismantle the cables, as it did during operations along J.M. Basa Street (Calle Real) in the downtown area.
“I have tasked Francis Cruz, co-chairman of the Public Utilities Group in Iloilo (PUGI), to work with the CEO to identify and remove unaccounted-for lines,” Treñas added.
The mayor emphasized the importance of clearing unsightly “clotheslines” of cables to enhance the aesthetics of Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue.
City Regulation Ordinance No. 2023-006, which took effect on March 13, 2023, mandates the removal of aerial cables in city plaza complexes, Sunburst Park, Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue, and all protected cultural and heritage properties in the city.
The city’s power distributor, MORE Electric and Power Corporation, previously undertook a PHP 96.4-million underground cabling project along J.M. Basa Street. The work, spanning from Plazoleta Gay to Plaza Libertad, started in May 2023 and was completed in October 2024.
Uncleared cables from the downtown area were removed starting Jan. 1, 2025, which temporarily affected internet connectivity in some areas, including the city hall.
