GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/17 September)—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has allocated around P54 million for the installation of energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) streetlights in major roads within the city.
Engr. Pio Lumongsod, DPWH district engineer here, said they are targeting to install around 1,000 LED streetlights starting late October in three thoroughfares leading to the city’s commercial and industrial areas.
He said the project will cover the western section of the city circumferential road in Barangay Sinawal, Makar road and Pioneer Avenue.
The western section of the circumferential road covers an alternate route leading to the city international airport and the industrial areas in Barangays Fatima, Tambler and Calumpang.
The Makar road is part of the main highway that leads to the city’s Makar port or the sub-port of Dadiangas and nearby industrial sites while the Pioneer Avenue is located at the heart of the area’s main commercial district.
Lumongsod said they will install the LED lights in unlit portions and replace the sodium lamps presently installed in some portions of the three roads.
“These are 90 to 100 watts of LED lights and are equivalent to around 250 watts of sodium lamps. They are mainly brighter and more energy-efficient,” he said in an interview over TV Patrol Socsksargen.
The official said the DPWH Region 12 recently approved the plans and programs of the project and they’re now preparing for the publication of its bid notice.
He said they are arranging to start this week the publication of the bid notice that would last for about a month based on government regulations.
Lumongsod said they expect to complete the bidding process and award or “bid-out” the project by (late) October.
Meantime, to complement the DPWH project, city engineer Francisco Provido said the local government will start the replacement in the coming weeks of the city’s sodium lamp streetlights to LED lights.
He said the city government earlier allocated around P1 million for the purchase and installation of the initial batch of LED streetlights.
City Mayor Ronnel Rivera had created a technical working group to lead a study and the identification of the areas where the LED lights would be installed.
Based on the local government’s earlier assessment, the use of LED lights will effectively reduce the city’s energy consumption by around one megawatt. (MindaNews)
