Baguio park burns brighter, cheaper

BAGUIO CITY—A heavy downpour and the early evening chill in the summer capital on Friday failed to dampen the mood of President Aquino and guests during the ceremonial switch-on of energy-saving lights around iconic Burnham Park.

“We cannot bring back the glory days of Burnham [Park] but this is a good start,” the President told an audience drenched by the rain in front of the park’s skating rink.

“I talked to [Baguio] Bishop [Carlito] Cenzon a few months ago and [the deteriorating state of] Burnham was one of the issues we talked about. We have to get it to how it was,” he said of Baguio’s top attraction.

The retrofitting of the lights at Burnham and Wright parks entailed the replacement of 314 250-watt and 150-w mercury vapor lamps with 70-w high pressure sodium vapor lamps and compact fluorescent lamps, Department of Energy and city officials said.

They said the move would mean about P3 million in annual savings for the city government.

“It is a dream realized for the safety of Burnham Park. It is not yet the desired solar lamps but it is already efficient lighting,” said Cenzon. “The project not only covers Burnham Park but also Wright Park, which is more than  we asked for.”

The President noted the enjoyment that Burnham Park offered to visitors and residents alike.

“I still remember Burnham Park’s glory days. I make it a point to visit the park, especially when I’m lonely. This park is beautiful and I appreciate the sights,” he said.

A statement from the Presidential Communications Operations Office said the Burnham Park lighting project was aimed at boosting tourism and raising public awareness on the use of energy-saving lights.

The lighting ceremony was actually the launch of a much bigger project, the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP) funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The PEEP, which would also be implemented in Cagayan de Oro City and Metro Manila, is expected to save the government more than P123.5 million in power consumption yearly.

Sohail Hasnie, ADB principal energy specialist, said changing the lights at Burnham and Wright parks would not only save the city P2.93 million a year but would also reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions amounting to 158,460 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2).

He said the retrofitting of lights in Cagayan de Oro City would help the city save P9 million a year and reduce GHG at 486,388 kg of CO2.

Hasnie also said the ADB would be retrofitting the traffic lights at 159 intersections and pedestrian lamps at 88 intersections in Metro Manila. The project, which would start in the last quarter of this year, would save Metro Manila P22.25 million and reduce 1.2 million  kg of CO2, he added.

Energy Undersecretary Loreta Ayson, PEEP head, said the  retrofitting of lights in 175 government buildings in the country would be completed by the end of the year and save the government almost P90 million. Frank Cimatu, Inquirer Northern Luzon