A proposed ordinance that imposes an annual Mayor’s Permit Fee for all telecommunication poles and posts erected on city roads and alleys was passed by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod on first reading during its regular session Wednesday, May 24.
Committee on Ways and Means Chairperson, Councilor Vladimir Gonzales, one of the authors of the proposed ordinance, said Thursday that this is one of the ways to regulate telecommunication posts as they can pose hazards along Bacolod roads if not maintained.
He co-authored the proposed ordinance with Councilor Renecito Novero.
The proposed ordinance also states that these poles can also be a nuisance to the panorama or skyline of the city.
Gonzales said that in their initial proposed ordinance, there will be a P500 permit fee per post or pole annually.
This includes telecom posts owned by public utility companies erected on the government and private lots along government streets, roads, highways, and alleys.
The proposal also said that the provisions of the ordinance will cover the construction, installation, and maintenance of electric and telecommunications poles, towers, and wires cables for television and telephone poles and cable wires within the city.
The councilor also said it’s about time to impose such fees on the telecom poles as it would also help to offset the expenses of the city.
Gonzales added that when he informed Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez about the matter, the mayor said he want higher fees imposed.
Public consultations will be conducted next month to get the opinion of the various sectors and to deliberate whether to increase the P500 fee, Gonzales added.
If the proposed ordinance is approved, the city engineer’s office will estimate the number of telecom poles subject to the permit fee, he added.*