At least 10 such sites have been noted in areas within the jurisdiction of Angeles and this city, particularly in Barangay Lakandula where concrete roads were cracked apart to give way to the diggings.
During rains, the diggings which were later filled with bags of sand turn into stagnant pools which reduce two way roads into single lanes.
Lakandula chairman Elmer Madlambayan told Punto, however, that the diggings have permits from both the city governments of Mabalacat and Angeles.
“The diggings are being done by the PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.) for the installation of fiber optic cables for TV and internet cables,” he said.
Madlambayan said more diggings are expected to be done up to Barangay Duquit on the side of Mabalacat.
Of the diggings, only the one along the MacArthur Highway at the corner of 9th Street in Lakandula has been restored back to its concrete condition.
The rest along 7th and 6th Streets were filled up only with sandbags.
But Madlambayan said that the city engineering offices of both Mabalacat and Angeles would not have given them permits to dig without the condition that concrete roads be covered anew with concrete.
Residents have noted, however, that weeks after the installation of cables at 7th and 6th Streets, there have been no indications that the concrete would be restored at the digging sites.
“This would be tantamount to destruction of public properties,” one resident said.
