14 September 2005
From cable wires, to manhole covers to tower steel parts
By DANNY O. SAGUN
PIA-Pangasinan
LINGAYEN – After telephone cable wire and manhole cover, thieves have switched their target to transmission tower parts.
Apparently unable to fully guard transmission towers from thieves, the National Transmission Corporation has enlisted the help of the concerned barangays and the Philippine National Police
Transco officer Jessie Arenas and Alejandro Quitoles relayed their request to Sr. Supt. Alan Purisima, PNP provincial director Thursday during a break in the board meeting of the Pangasinan Association of Government Information Officer (PAGIO) at the PNP provincial office.
The agency will need the assistance of the PNP in their information dissemination sorties in barangays being traversed by the transmission towers.
Purisima said he will instruct the police chiefs in the concerned municipalities to coordinate with Transco once a request reaches his office.
Thieves reportedly use acetylene torches to cut the imported and highly priced galvanized steel.
The latest incident was the cutting of vital tower plants in barangay Hacienda, Bugallon, Arenas said.
The imported steel is resistant to rust. It is a very good material for making wheel mugs or vehicle chassis, he disclosed.
The Transco officials said when support frames are stolen, the tower is weakened and could collapse, resulting in power trip offs if not immediately checked.
Transco towers in Pangasinan run thru several towns starting from San Manuel in eastern Pangasinan up to Sual in the first district.
Purisima revealed that junkshops are now constantly monitored to discourage sale of stolen steel or iron bars like those used for manhole covers.
A junkshop based in Calasiao had already closed shop and the owner transferred his business somewhere after was caught doing fencing activities in the past involving cut railroad tracks, it was gathered.
The provincial police director however noted the difficulty in pinning down those caught violating the anti-fencing law which he described as “the weakest law” so far enacted in the country.
He asked the public works and highways department to put markings in the manhole cover for easier identification of stolen materials and prosecution of suspects.
PIA-Pangasinan
LINGAYEN – After telephone cable wire and manhole cover, thieves have switched their target to transmission tower parts.
Apparently unable to fully guard transmission towers from thieves, the National Transmission Corporation has enlisted the help of the concerned barangays and the Philippine National Police
Transco officer Jessie Arenas and Alejandro Quitoles relayed their request to Sr. Supt. Alan Purisima, PNP provincial director Thursday during a break in the board meeting of the Pangasinan Association of Government Information Officer (PAGIO) at the PNP provincial office.
The agency will need the assistance of the PNP in their information dissemination sorties in barangays being traversed by the transmission towers.
Purisima said he will instruct the police chiefs in the concerned municipalities to coordinate with Transco once a request reaches his office.
Thieves reportedly use acetylene torches to cut the imported and highly priced galvanized steel.
The latest incident was the cutting of vital tower plants in barangay Hacienda, Bugallon, Arenas said.
The imported steel is resistant to rust. It is a very good material for making wheel mugs or vehicle chassis, he disclosed.
The Transco officials said when support frames are stolen, the tower is weakened and could collapse, resulting in power trip offs if not immediately checked.
Transco towers in Pangasinan run thru several towns starting from San Manuel in eastern Pangasinan up to Sual in the first district.
Purisima revealed that junkshops are now constantly monitored to discourage sale of stolen steel or iron bars like those used for manhole covers.
A junkshop based in Calasiao had already closed shop and the owner transferred his business somewhere after was caught doing fencing activities in the past involving cut railroad tracks, it was gathered.
The provincial police director however noted the difficulty in pinning down those caught violating the anti-fencing law which he described as “the weakest law” so far enacted in the country.
He asked the public works and highways department to put markings in the manhole cover for easier identification of stolen materials and prosecution of suspects.
