Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and the Pasig City local government intensified wire-clearing operations as part of efforts to improve public safety and reduce urban blight caused by unauthorized cable attachments.

The operation was conducted on May 26 along Mangga Avenue in Pasig City and was led by Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto, Vice Mayor Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr., and Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga.

According to Meralco, the activity forms part of its Anti-Urban Blight Program, which aims to maintain the integrity of distribution facilities while ensuring the continuous delivery of reliable electricity service.

“Meralco proactively conducts more operations like these in collaboration with the local government units to safeguard the community from electrical hazards and minimize urban blight,” Zaldarriaga said.

He also reiterated the responsibility of all pole users, including telecommunications and internet service providers, to secure the necessary permits before using Meralco facilities.

Meralco said unauthorized and abandoned wire attachments can contribute to electrical hazards, fire risks, and strain on distribution infrastructure– especially in densely populated urban communities.

For 2026 alone, the power distributor said it has already removed more than 1,200 kilograms of unauthorized wire attachments in Pasig City.

The company regularly conducts wire-clearing operations under its Anti-Urban Blight Program to improve community safety and maintain the reliability of its distribution network serving around 8.3 million customers.

The activity also highlighted ongoing coordination between local governments and utility providers to address infrastructure safety concerns as utility and telecommunications networks continue expanding in urban areas.

As cities continue modernizing utility and telecommunications infrastructure, how can local governments and service providers better balance public safety, service reliability, and urban development?

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