Last lamppost removed; Rama mulls donation

WITH the last of the controversial 1,800 overpriced decorative lampposts removed in Cebu City, Mayor Michael Rama said yesterday they can now proceed with the beautification of the streets full-blast.

Rama said he will ask the Beautiful Cebu Movement to map plans on how to further beautify the city streets and sidewalks.

He said SM Mall management already committed to handle the beautification works in their area.

The mayor also proposed that most of the lampposts installed in time for the 2007 Association of Asian Nations (Asean) summit be donated to interested groups rather than let them rot in a city owned warehouse.

Rama said the city agriculture office already planned to put up plants to occupy the portions of the sidewalk formerly occupied by the lampposts.

“A lot of people asked for them, if it’s still useful to some, then why not give it to them?,” he said.

He said an official of one local government unit (LGU) whom he declined to identify wanted to use the lampposts for their beautification project.

About 1,800 of these China-made lampposts were installed on the streets of the cities of Lapu Lapu, Mandaue and Cebu City during the 2007 Asean summit.

The lampposts are now the subject of an ongoing case against public works and former officials of the cities of Mandaue and Lapu Lapu after graft investigators learned that the shorter lampposts pegged at P95,000 each cost only P14,000.

The Ombudsman allowed the city government to already remove lampposts installed along S. Osmena Road, Juan Luna Avenue (now known as Pope John Paul II Avenue), Salinas Drive and Veterans Drive.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) records show that a total of 685 lampposts were installed on city streets.

But the Cebu City Integrated Traffic Operations Management (Citom) said only 677 lampposts were accounted for.

Rama, who witnessed the removal of these lampposts beside the Radisson Blu Hotel yesterday afternoon, said allowing the lampposts on city streets will only remind Cebuanos of the corruption committed during its purchase.

Rama said pictures taken to prove its existence and other documents on the lampposts purchase were already enough for court evidence. “Only several lampposts are needed for a case,” he said.Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac