Cebu spends P10M for solar street lights

CEBU CITY—The Cebu provincial government will put up solar-powered street lights as part of its programs in the aftermath of Typhoon “Odette” (international name: Rai).

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia led the inauguration on March 4 of the first three solar-powered streetlights on Bantayan Island.

The streetlights were installed in Barangay Talangnan in Madridejos, Barangay Sulangan in Bantayan, and Barangay Marikaban in Santa Fe town.

“Mayors and barangay officials no longer have to worry as to who will pay for the electricity because those streetlights are solar-powered,” Garcia said in jest.

The provincial government set aside P10 million to fund the solar streetlight project across Cebu.

Hundreds of electric posts, wires, and telecommunication towers were toppled when “Odette” devastated the southern and central portions of Cebu island.

Billions of pesos worth of infrastructure, property, and agriculture were also damaged.

Apart from the solar-powered streetlights, the province also allocated at least P2 billion to assist those severely affected by the typhoon.

In an earlier announcement, Garcia said the province initially bought at least 2,500 solar lamps.

The number of streetlights will be increased as needed. Priority for the lamps, she said, would be given to paved barangay roads.

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