Cebu City not keen on using decorative lampposts at SRP

The Cebu City government is not keen on accepting the proposal of the company that installed decorative lampposts for the ASEAN Summit to install the same lamps at the South Road Properties even if the company lowers the price.

In his regular press conference yesterday, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said what the SRP needs are streetlights and not decorations.

Osmeña, however, said that while he has not formally received a proposal from the company yet, he is willing to try their products so he can confirm if these were really overpriced and that if the lampposts can withstand saltwater corrosion.

"I did not really consider it even if it will cost P5,000 each. They are decorative and not to light the street. I don't consider it close to streetlighting," he said.

The mayor said that the fact that the lampposts are for decorative purposes, these are considered luxury. He, however, said that the people of Cebu City should be the judge if the SRP really needs such decorative lampposts.

There are reports that the company that installed decorative lampposts along the ceremonial routes of the ASEAN Summit is planning to propose to install similar lights at the SRP but at one-third of the price it offered to the DPWH, which was in-charge of the street decorations for the summit. The decorative lampposts installed along the ceremonial routes of the summit were allegedly priced at P96,000 each.

He said the lampposts with the streetlights that are installed along Osmeña Boulevard are very effective and cost-saving for the city.

In that area, he said the city government has placed 12 posts priced at P120,000 each and the bulbs installed can last up to 12 years. He added that the area is very well lighted and the city is able to save about 20 percent electricity from the lampposts.

"It's not made from China but France. It's the latest in streetlighting and we are the first to use it in the world. It has self-cleaning lenses," Osmeña explained. - Wenna A. Berondo