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ASEAN LIGHTS LOOTED Over 20 streetlights never lighted, end up vandalized by Jolene R. Bulambot CORRESPONDENT

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esidents of barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City thought their prayers for brighter roads at night were answered when about 20 streetlights were installed in November 2006, two months before the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

But to their dismay, the P6-million project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was never lighted. More than a year after the summit, the single-arm streetlights, which cost P300,000 each, remain idle. The fixtures have also been looted by thieves. Cables and light bulbs were stolen. Entire posts were uprooted, said residents. “Until now we are wondering why they have not been lighted. We could have benefited from the government project but we don’t know why they just stood there useless. The government could have used the money to build low-cost housing for the poor,” said Francisca Yayong, 66, who owns a store along the road. She and neighbor Teodora Caballero said they saw a group of persons remov-

ing some streetlights several months after these were installed. Caballero, 54, said they didn't know who uprooted the streetlights. They thought the crew were government personnel. The Office of the OmbudsmanVisayas has ordered the DPWH to look into the vandalism in Punta Engaño. The streetlamps were not located along the summit ceremonial route, opening more questions for the Ombudsman-Visayas. Associate Graft Investigator Roderick Blazo said DPWH officials were told to explain why these streetlights were installed for the ASEAN Summit when this part of Punta Engaño was not part of the ceremonial route. The route included streets in the cities LOOTED 39

ONE of 20 single-arm streetlights in Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City, looted by thieves. Each unit, installed for the 12th ASEAN Summit last year, costs about P300,000. CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA

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