More lights for Paco, Rizal parks

The Department of Budget and Management has released P150 million to the Department of Tourism to install “tourist-friendly and environment-friendly” lights at the Rizal and Paco Parks in Manila.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the funds would be used to replace the 733 existing lampposts in Rizal Park and 41 in Paco with solar-powered lights.

More than 450 incandescent and fluorescent bulbs would also be replaced with more efficient 534 light-emitting diode (LED) lights.

“Brighter and safer Rizal and Paco Parks await the public in 2012 for the government is set to improve lighting system in the area beginning January of next year,” Abad said.

The secretary said the project was being implemented upon the initiative of Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, “who … is pushing for safer, cleaner and more energy-efficient tourism.”

Abad said the use of solar-powered LED lights is being promoted by the government for energy-efficiency.

The project is expected to reduce the electricity consumption of the DOT’s National Parks Development Committee by 83 percent annually “or about P16.11 million from its present electricity utilization rate of P19.36 million.”

Abad said the Musical Dancing Fountain in Rizal Park would also be provided with two energy generation systems as an energy-saving device. Norman Bordadora