The most recent accolade received by Davao City as a local government unit is its ongoing underground utility cabling project.
Started about five years ago, the project has inspired the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to adopt its unique concept in the National Capital Region (NCR) whose overhead cables are admittedly messy just like those in the other cities of the country.
The DPWH-NCR has sent a team of engineers to conduct bench-marking activities in Davao City to observe the city’s successful implementation of underground utility cabling system last March 21 and 22, 2022.
DPWH-NCR Engineer Mariel S. Vega, Xinrex R. Nicolas and Public Information Officer Ms Jam Patricia B. Reyes met with Davao City Local Government Unit (LGU), and Davao Light and Power Company to discuss the possible adoption of their metholodology in Metro Manila. Initiated by the Davao City
LGU, the underground utility cabling system in the city being implemented by Davao Light is 5 years in the making and still ongoing to this date. Engineer Manuel D. Cellona, Estela M. Laban, Alson Cardoza of Davao City LGU and Engineer Jesse Talavera, Prince Yamyamin of Davao Light shared the process they had undertaken on the underground utility cabling system, best practices observed as well as constraints encountered during the implementation of the project at the City Engineer’s Office. The DPWH-NCR team personally visited both the completed and ongoing portions in the areas of C.M. Recto, Davao City Hall and Sangguniang Panlungsod.
This followed preparations for the incoming pilot feasibility studies on Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) and Katipunan Avenue Extension.
Based on our city’s experience, reducing the number of overhead cables won’t just make our road system prettier to look at. The move could be pay-off in terms of safety, too, as it will reduce the chance of cables falling down during storms.
Another advantage is that underground cabling will reduce the chance of fire spreading to other areas when the cables are overhead.
Indeed, the multi-million underground cabling system is another of Davao City’s several points of pride.
