BAGUIO CITY – All establishments here are now required to have built-in power houses to secure their electrical transformers within their premises instead of attaching them to electric posts.
This is by virtue of Ordinance No. 54 series of 2017 recently approved on final reading by the city council.
Authored by Councilors Benny Bomogao, Faustino Olowan and Michael Lawana, the measure aims to eliminate the dangers posed to the public by these transformers attached to posts especially during typhoons and calamities.
They noted that the newly approved Environment Code of the City of Baguio mandates new buildings to have a space for public utility facilities like electrical transformers.
As decreed, all existing sole-use power transformers attached to electrical posts along roads and alleys will be relocated to the premises of their users.
The ordinance mandates the Benguet Electric Cooperative Inc. to refrain from providing power service to those that will not comply with the requirement and the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) to ensure that all establishments will have a secured facility for its power transformer and that the facility will be incorporated in the building and electrical plans as a requirement in the issuance of building permit.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) will also not issue a clearance to non-compliant establishments.
The measure gives all establishments one year from the effectivity of this ordinance to relocate their power transformers.
The CBAO will issue notices every quarter for compliance to covered establishments and electric distribution company.
After the deadline, BENECO will immediately cut off electric service to non-compliant establishments upon 60 days’ notice.
Violators will be fined P5,000 and will face non-renewal or revocation of their business permits and closure of their establishments.
By Aileen P. Refuerzo
