How Iloilo will guard its cables from geckos, birds and balloons

MANILA  -Iloilo power distributor MORE Electric and Power Corp. is eyeing the completion of its underground distribution services in the city in June next year.

According to MORE Power, the project, which was launched in October this year, was “progressing seamlessly according to schedule, with no reported delays to date.”

The project spans 1 kilometer and includes Iloilo City’s business district.

The company added two more months in the construction calendar to give way to the removal of existing facilities, MORE Power said.

It is currently in its first phase of construction. The second phase, which involves the actual transfer of cables underground, is set to begin in January and will last until June.

Bernard Bailey del Castillo, MORE Power vice president for network operations, said the underground distribution system would eliminate the risks of geckos, birds and rats approaching overhead lines.

Power outages

This would ensure a “safer and more reliable” electrical infrastructure, he said.

“This includes resolving the menace of power outages caused by animal intrusion and addressing the annual concern of balloons slipping away during the Dinagyang Festival,” the company said, referring to the annual religious and cultural festival in the city that attracts thousands of tourists.

With commuters in mind

The company likewise clarified that construction caused “minimal disruptions” in the downtown area, as activities were “strategically conducted” from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., ensuring “smoother traffic flow” during daytime.

MORE Power president and chief executive Roel Castro, meanwhile, highlighted the project would help preserve cultural aspects of the community, as overhead cables would no longer be visible.

“There are very few cities in the Philippines that can genuinely boast of having a rich heritage and culture, evident in the edifices and monuments scattered around the city. These structures serve as testaments to the city’s exceptionally rich cultural and historical legacy,” he said.