The Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative will start trimming tall trees or other structures which obstruct power lines.
NORECO-I Institutional Services Manager Jonah Maxino explained that the law strongly prohibits planting of tall trees or setting up structures like houses within three meters along the power line corridor in line with Republic Act 11361.
The electric cooperative is allowed to clear these obstructions in coordination with local government units and agencies such as Department of Environment & Natural Resources and the Department of the Interior & Local Government.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
The issue on clearing of trees that lean towards electric posts or structures located near electric lines which threaten the continuous supply of electricity were brought up during the two consecutive Kapihan sa PIA fora held in Guihulngan City and Jimalalud on Jan. 16 and 17, respectively.
Signed by President Duterte on Aug. 8, 2019, the “Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act” underscores the role of property owners in ensuring that power lines are free from any hazardous or dangerous activities and improvements.
Aside from ensuring that there are no obstructions near power lines, the law also prohibits burning of waste and other materials, excavation, quarrying, and construction of structures near the power line corridor which could interrupt the distribution of electricity.
NORECO-I President Alfonso Tadiffa emphasized that it is the duty of the member-consumer to keep the power line corridor free from any threats that disrupt the supply of electricity.
“It is the obligation of the consumer not to plant trees under the electrical lines of NORECO because it could cause power outage in the future,” Tadiffa appealed to member-consumers.
“I encourage everyone that when you see a tree planted under electrical lines of NORECO-I to kindly cut it down or uproot it while it is still young,” he added.
Individuals who refuse to cooperate with the electric cooperative and other agencies in clearing obstructions near electric posts will have to pay penalties starting at P50,000 to up to P200,000 and imprisonment.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Meanwhile, Tadiffa also welcomed Guihulngan City Mayor Carlo Jorge Joan Reyes’s suggestion to have a meeting with the Department of Public Works & Highways in enforcement of easement laws along national highways in relation also to clearing obstructions near NORECO-I electric lines.
Mayor Reyes pushed for the full enforcement of easement laws to clear highways from any elements that could pose a threat to electric posts and avoid possible power interruption caused by these structures.
“What we can do is for municipalities, NORECO, and DPWH to sit down and discuss how to fully enforce the law that strictly prohibits growing of trees along the highways to avoid incidences of power outages. According to the law on national highways, we can cut/uproot trees that are planted 20 meters from the center aisle of the highway,” Reyes said. (ral/PIA7-NegOr)
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});