Local cable thieves now able to take down, dissassemble 34.5 KVA transformer – NTC-10

August 11, 2008

34.5 kva transformer

By Lizanilla J. Amarga

The regional office of the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC-10) is now alarmed over the capability of local cable thieves to take down high-voltage transformers and disassemble the parts to be peddled to the underground black market.

NTC-10 regional director Teodoro Buenavista said he has received reports that a three-feet tall 34.5 KVA Transformer owned by the Cagayan de Oro Power and Light Corporation (Cepalco) was recently stolen from Malasag this city.

He said he had checked with Cepalco’s Live Construction and Maintenance Department head Elmero Labis and Line Design engineer Darius Belga.

Buenavista recounted how he was told that this was the first time that a P85,000 worth Cepalco transformer with lightning arrestor was stolen by local cable thieves.

He said the reports showed that the thieves even dismantled the very heavy transformer on the side street before carting off its spare parts.

“Kulba na kaayo ug abilidad ang atong mga cable thieves diri kay naa sa live wire na kana nga 220 volts (The abilities of our cable thieves here are really getting superior they are now into transformers which are connected to 220 volts live wires),” he told Gold Star Daily.

He added that these cable thieves are getting bolder and more daring everyday that they are not caught and prosecuted in the proper courts.

Buenavista who is currently the chairperson for the Task Force vs. Cable Theft voiced deep hopes that the City Government of Cagayan de Oro and the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) will give more attention to the series of incidences wherein thieves just cart away cables from power posts causing a great deal of loss to the city.

He explained that “negative domino effects” are suffered by the general public every time a cable wire is stolen regardless whether it belongs to Cepalco, any of the telecommunications companies or local cable operators such as Parasat and Jade Cable among others.

He said these incidences don’t just spell losses in terms of services and the cutting-off in business transactions being dealt with by banks and other commercial enterprises, but also, tarnishes the image that the city is building for its potential foreigner and domestic investors.

“We keep on inviting investors and promising them that we have the facilities to serve them yet we are not doing enough to make sure these facilities are properly safeguarded,” he said.

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Written by admin · Filed Under Cagayan de Oro