Section 2Sec./Art. 2

A new section is hereby inserted after Section 3 of Republic Act No. 8196 to read as follows:

"Sec. 4.

Excavation and Restoration Work - For the purpose of erecting and maintaining poles and other supports for wires or other conductors and for the purpose of laying and maintaining underground wires, cables, pipes or other conductors, the grantee, its successors or assignees, is authorized to make excavations or lay conduits in any of the public places, roads, highways, streets, lanes, alleys, avenues, sidewalks, or bridges of the province, cities, and/or municipalities subject to the prior approval of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and/or the local government unit (LGU) concerned, as may be appropriate: Provided, however, That a public place, road, highway, street, lane, alley, avenue, sidewralk, or bridge disturbed, altered or changed by reason of erection of poles or other supports or the underground laying of wires, other conductors or conduits shall be repaired and replaced in workmanlike manner at the expense of the said grantee, its successors or assignees, in accordance with the standards set by the DPWH or the LGU concerned.

Should the grantee, its successors or assignees, after the ten (10)-day notice from the said authority, fail, refuse, or neglect to repair or replace any part of public place, road, highway, street, lane, alley, avenue, sidewalk, or bridge disturbed, altered or changed by the said grantee, its successors or assignees, then the DPWH or the LGU concerned shall have the right to have the same repaired and placed in good order and condition, and charge the grantee, its successors or assignees, at double the amount of the costs and expenses for such repair or replacement."