City government installing solar-powered street lights

CEBU, Philippines — From the grid, Cebu City is transitioning to solar-powered street lighting, a move that Mayor Nestor Archival said is part of his vision of building a smart and sustainable city while also aiming for significant savings for the local government.

In a modest ceremony, Archival led the launching of the project at City Hall, carrying a clear message of intent: the city’s commitment to renewable energy and a brighter, safer Cebu.

“Launching sa atong pagbutang sa atong street lightings nga instead of gikan sa grid adto na ta sa solar,” he declared.

The Department of General Services (DGS) is spearheading the initiative under Purchase Request No. 26-03-00239, which covers the installation of 350 solar street lights with 8-meter poles along Gov. M. Cuenco Avenue.

Each fixture will deliver 18,000 lumens, spaced approximately 30 meters apart, and will operate from sundown to sunrise.

The integrated design combines the panel and light fixture, backed by a five-year warranty and free installation service assistance.

Energy Conservation Officer Marie Trece Flores outlined the financial impact of the project.

“Once this project is accomplished, the city will be able to save more or less P350,000 per month with an annual savings of P4.2 million,” she said.

The bid documents detail strict technical requirements, including an LED Chip 5050 with 350 pieces, a beam angle of 150*70D, a lifespan of 50,000 hours, ingress protection of at least IP65, and a working temperature range of –20 to +60 degrees Celsius.

The system is designed to function for five to seven rainy days at normal capacity. Flores also emphasized that the project aligns with national directives to reduce fuel and electricity consumption.

“Our trust in our office is to focus on projects that save on electricity, on fuels, on energy conservation. This is in line with the issuances of the President that we are to focus on saving through fuel consumption and electric consumption. With this, we have a brighter and safer Cebu City,” Flores added.

The project is funded through the Department of General Services, with a six-month timeline for completion.

Installation is expected to begin immediately, with initial savings projected by September and full completion by December 2026.

Archival noted that this project is part of a broader agenda for sustainable urban development.

Cebu City has already begun shifting government facilities to solar power, with rooftop photovoltaic systems installed at the Legislative and Executive Annex Buildings earlier this year.

Six city-owned buildings are targeted for solar integration before the end of 2026, with the mayor setting an ambitious goal of halving the city’s P300 million annual electricity bill within two years.

“These efforts are part of the many projects that the mayor has assigned for us to manage,” Flores said, reinforcing the administration’s vision of fiscal discipline and environmental responsibility.

With the solar street lighting program now underway, alongside earlier solar installations in government buildings, Cebu City positions itself as a model for energy conservation and sustainable governance, a city that is not only brighter and safer, but also smarter and greener. — /IHM (FREEMAN)