When roaming the streets of Metro Manila, people can see the progress of the area. There are more buildings and projects along the streets. Alongside this development is an opportunity to further enhance the city’s landscape by addressing an often overlooked aspect when we look up: tangled, sagging wires.

If you recall, to support a cleaner, safer, and more organized environment, Meralco launched its Anti-Urban Blight Campaign. This initiative goes beyond improving the streetscape—it also promotes electrical safety awareness, helps reduce fire risks, and protects communities from potential hazards such as electrocution.

By working closely with local government units, the campaign is helping transform communities into safer spaces. This next stop: Pasig.

Meralco’s Anti-Urban Blight Campaign started years ago, but its importance was more emphasized as the visual clutter worsened with the higher demand for Internet connectivity during the pandemic. With more people working and studying from home, the need for reliable Internet grew, and with it, a rapid increase in wires installed by various service providers.

Over time, this led to a buildup of cables attached to electric poles, many of which were unauthorized. Moreover, residents changing networks every so often made inactive wires rampant.

Through this campaign, Meralco addresses these challenges via clearing inactive and unauthorized lines, all the while promoting safer and more organized communities.

In its home city of Pasig, VISOR has now witnessed one such clearing operation. At 7am, along Mangga Street in Barangay Kalawaan, the Meralco crew started the tedious task under the scorching heat of the sun.

Soon after, Pasig City mayor Vico Sotto and vice mayor Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr. arrived, along with Meralco head of corporate communications Joe Zaldarriaga. The Pasig LGU and Meralco followed their lead. They went street to street for initial inspections.

Streets were teeming with Meralco trucks and electricians in collaboration with telco and cable providers, which cleared unnecessary wire connections, including fiber cables and inactive lines. The poles are now safer and cleaner compared to before the operation, reducing potential risks and hazards down the road. This also makes the area look organized and appealing.

Meanwhile, the LGUs that Meralco has partnered with are taking proactive steps to regulate unauthorized wire attachments through local programs and ordinances, such as Pasig City’s Oplan Kaayusan.

The purpose of the program is not to be taken lightly, as it has been commonly treated as a matter too small to address. This initiative ensures safer streets for the people, and promotes more order and proper organization.

When will this program go next? We’ll keep you posted.

This branded article was produced in partnership with Meralco.