Caloocan City ordered Sunday the systematic pruning of trees that pose danger to power lines and may cause power outages in the city's 188 barangays.

Mayor Enrico Echiverri advised the residents not to prune tree limbs by themselves, but instead asked them to seek assistance from the Environmental Sanitation Services/Reformed Department of Public Safety, city engineer’s office or Manila Electric Company (Meralco).

The hotlines for these offices are Environmental Sanitation Services/Reformed Department of Public Safety (3235742), City Engineer’s Office (2888811) and Meralco (16211).

“Our trained tree crew will work year-round to maintain the required clearances on all power lines. Each tree is inspected and trimmed on a regular basis as this provides the best program of control for growth and maintenance in all 188 barangays,” Echiverri said.

He said trees conduct electricity and can create a safety hazard if limbs grow too close to electric lines and that power outages and momentary service interruptions can occur when branches come into contact with overhead lines.

“Trees growing near power lines must be pruned to maintain a safe distance from the wires and if you have trees that appear to be growing into power lines, contact the city government or Meralco,” he urged. He added that electrical arcing and sparking from a wire to a nearby branch can also cause fires and power lines broken or knocked down by trees or tree branches can be live, warning that live wires can kill.

Echiverri said that a greater concern is the safety risk when children climb trees near power lines because the accidental contact of electric wires with a tree limb or person playing or trimming around the tree could be fatal.