BRIEFS: Metro

Many utility poles in a state of disrepair

Maydée Romero/LA PRENSA

unpleasant:Some business leaders have called for Panama’s utility lines to be placed underground, an option the government says is too expensive.1065528

On one side of Parque Urracá, a point known as “cinco esquinas,” a tangle of wires hang from an antiquated utility pole.

Unión Fenosa, which has the concession to provide electrical service in the area, is in charge of maintaining the utility poles. In this instance, however, it simply transferred the power line to a new one, instead of repairing the old one. Company officials said they do not have the authority to move the other wires, which are owned by telephone and cable companies.

This is not an uncommon site around the city, as many utility poles are overloaded with wires and in poor condition. Critics say these wires decrease property values and make the city look ugly.

Víctor Urrutia, administrator of the Autoridad de Servicios Públicos (Asep), said that the agency is more concerned with the quality of service that consumers receive than the appearance of the utility poles. While some business leaders have called for the wires to be placed underground, an option which has been deemed too costly.