Dahino hits absence of streetlights

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent .

City Councilor Edna Dahino is asking the City Engineering Office to shed light over her personal observation regarding the non-availability of street lights installed by the city government within the city streets and highways.

Dahino issued the statement during her privilege speech on Monday’s regular session at the city council as she pointed out that non-availability of street lights would lead to an increase crime in the city.

“In communities across the world, street lights are still welcomed as one of many public safety strategies to deter crimes. There is a general feeling of perceived safety if our streets and alleyways are well illuminated,” she said.

She added that it is also observed that improvements to lightings not only act as deterrent to crime but can also improve community’s cohesion and pride.

“Given the ready connection between street lighting and public safety, I believed that improving our streetlights is just one of the ways that our city can take tangible steps towards improved service delivery, ensure public safety, and improve quality of life for our residents that is why my committee on Finance Budget and Appropriation approved millions of pesos when our city embarked on rehabilitating and upgrading our street lights years ago.  Our city heavily invested from converting our traditional street lights to LED.”

It is sad to note, she added that until now there are still many streets that do not have lights.

Dahino also pointed out that the recently concluded City Development Council meeting together with City Mayor Oscar Moreno, the same problem was highlighted by the city’s barangay chairpersons.

“Ngitngit nga kadalanan, where our City Engineer Engr. Rolando Pacuribot answered that dark to no lighting streets is caused by either busted lights or worst by looting. According to him, gapangawaton kuno ang atong mga wirings,” she said.

Dahino claimed that wire looting must be stopped because the city government has been investing millions of pesos in acquiring new types of LED lights for the purpose.

“This wire looting has to stop. Sayang ang atong millions of investment. It is on this note that I am humbly asking for the cooperation of all the barangay councils in our city to help oversee the maintenance and upkeep of our street lights in their respective barangay for a quicker and localized response,” she added.