The Bacolod City government has created a “Bantay Kable” task force to put a stop to the theft of telecommunication wires.
PCol. Thomas Joseph Martir, who spearheaded a meeting with Globe, PLDT, Sky Cable and Converge recently, issued a warning to the public to stop stealing telecommunication wires that cause inconvenience to residents, work-from-home employees and students attending virtual classes, a press release from the Bacolod City Public Information Office said.
The police will double its efforts against wire theft and strictly enforce the law against pilferage, Martir said.
The meeting was called through the initiative of Globe account manager Rachelle A. Villarosa, who sought government intervention against rampant wire theft, especially of Globe and PLDT lines that started after Typhoon Odette hit in December.
“Based on our records, this is mostly happening in Bacolod, at around 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.,” Villarosa said.
The “Bantay Kable,” a task force that will specifically monitor vulnerable areas in the city and will implement rules on the allowable height of trucks to prevent the damage of wires, the press release said.
City Administrator Edward Joseph Cuansing said close coordination of the Bacolod City Police Office, Association of Barangay Captains, City Engineers Office, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and telecommunication firms will be taken to address the problem immediately.
“This problem will definitely affect us which is why we are here to help,” he said.
Sky Cable and Converge also complained that they are victims of collateral damage when their fiber optic wires are cut by thieves, the press release said.
Martir urged the public to report any suspicious acts to the nearest police stations or to their barangays officials.*