Huluga tourist area thrown into darkness

May 20, 2008

light posts . Cagayan de Oro’s divisoria streets may be considered one tourist destination that ‘s all lit-up unlike the Huluga Caves tourist areas that doesn’t have a single working light bulb. (Story by: Lizanilla J. Amarga)

Some 112 expensive 250-watts sodium post lamps recently were busted and its wires stolen throwing the tourist spot Huluga Cave prone to criminality, vehicular accidents and dumping site.

Also, this would mean that City Hall is paying for the power consumption of these light posts at around P.7 million per year.

Such were the contents of City Councilor Aaron Neri’s special report yesterday which alarmed his colleagues at the City Council who voiced convictions that some other areas in the city are also going through the same dilemma.

Neri said some 10 kilometers of barangay road stretching in Upper Balulang-Indahag going down to Barangay Macasandig were thrown into darkness that is also affecting the junction over at Pueblo, Upper Balulang South Diversion Road to the junction or crossing of the Macasandig Elementary School.

He said he and their barangay electrician and staff conducted a “light post by light post” count of busted lights and found out that a total of no less than 112 posts.

He said they found out that 60 of these 112 light posts were purely busted while 52 were decommissioned as their electrical wires were cut and taken taken by thieves while 12 lamps were without fixtures.

“I am reporting this, to share a word of caution and for the necessary referral to the committees concerned,” he told his colleagues.

Neri said the sodium lights installed in these streets are the ones at 250 watts model which has an agreed fixed rate with the Cagayan Electric Power and Lights Company (Cepalco) at P529.20 per month or P6350.40 per year given the P5.88 per kilowatt consumption given with an average consumption of 90 kilowatts per month.

He said since there are 112 defective or non-operational posts, City Hall will have a total payable for the 112 posts is P 711,244.80 for the whole year.

“If Cepalco will not allow us to pay for defective / busted lamps, it’s not a problem. However, if the city is still obligated to pay for defective lamps, then it’s a problem,” he said.

“Other than the monetary concern, Mr. Chair, if the area will remain unattended, it is prone to criminality, vehicular accident and a site for the dumping of garbage. We must not forget that it is a tourists’ area, a passage or a way in going to the famous Huluga Cave, one of the city’s tourists’ spots.”

The City Council agreed to have the committees on public utility, energy and barangay affairs look into the matter and recommend solutions for the plenary to act upon.

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Written by admin · Filed Under Cagayan de Oro