Electrical linemen of the Panglao Municipal Engineering Office (MEO) on Thursday started to remove “exposed” electrical pipes along the kilometer-long shoreline of the Alona Beach in the resort town as precautionary measure and to rid the white-sand beach of “eyesore.”

The MEO discovered so far at least five PVC pipes which contain electrical wires along the beach during an inspection carried out by the agency earlier this week, said Panglao municipal engineer Rogelio Bunao.

According to Bunao, the pipes appeared to have been initially buried beneath sand but were eventually exposed over time.

“The [pipes] used to be covered with sand but were not properly kept. Then the sand may have been washed out, so na-expose sila,” he said.

Bunao noted that the establishments’ management claimed that the wires were no longer live after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ordered resorts to remove structures including tables and benches along the shore, particularly within the 20-meter easement zone.

The municipal official earlier speculated that the wires were used to transmit power to lampposts along the shore where some resorts and restaurants used to accommodate guests.

However, the MEO proceeded with pulling out the wires as these were “an eyesore” and were violating policies, said Bunao.

“Amo na pud nahinabi ang mga respective owners na kung mahimo sila nay mo take out sa mga electrical pole, kadtong mga poste, unya kami nay bahala sa linya kay risgo man gihapon na,” he added.

The MEO is set to continue inspections at the Alona coastline to check if other establishments also have electrical conduits along the beach.

In December last year, the Environmental Management Bureau of the DENR discovered several PVC pipes along the Alona Beach while inspecting the area for conduit that “discreetly” pumped out wastewater into the sea.

EMB 7 regional director William Cuñado later clarified after further investigation that there were no wastewater conduits buried beneath sand in the beach, noting that they instead found PVC pipes which contained electrical wires. (A. Doydora)