Don't plant under the power lines - Boheco

DESPITE assurances from local government agencies supervising the recent massive re-greening the highways program that every safety precaution is looked up to, Bohol Electric Cooperative (BOHECO) executives in Tubigon and Jagna are still wary about trees planted under distribution lines.

Planting trees under the lines, Boheco General Manager Carlos Itable said is a hazard and would be useless because distribution lines maintenance would ultimately cut the trees to secure the lines. Itable made this appeal after noticing that fast growing trees were recently planted on both sides of the highways, even including areas where the co-op's lines are strung overhead. A well-coordinated effort in planting trees along the highways is a priority project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of “Greening the Philippine Highways” which was launched on Aug. 25 with the LGU's as its major implementor.

While Itable clarifies that he is not against tree planting for it truly prevents air pollution by arresting toxic gases emitted from vehicles, creates environmental awareness and participation and improves the aesthetic value of highways. What he is after is the danger these trees give when they would have reached the high-tension lines. This would also affect the co-op's delivery of service and deliver massive systems loss.

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