• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to divert the P120 million budget for the so-called solar studs in three city project sites to solar streetlights in areas they are needed.
“Solar studs are not needed along Lacson Street,” Benitez said, adding that these are not effective as they break down easily.
He added that excess and unused funds should also be returned to the national government for realignment to projects that deliver benefits to the people.
The P120-million budget for solar studs was discovered by Benitez during his recent meeting with DPWH officials.
Solar studs or solar road studs are self-contained, embedded or surface-mounted devices that use a solar panel to charge a battery during the day and a LED to emit light at night, enhancing road markings and improving driver visibility in low-light conditions, especially in areas without streetlights or in hazardous weather.
Benitez said he asked the DPWH to abandon the solar studs project and instead, focus on funding solar street lights, which are more useful, more transparent, and more responsive to the needs of communities. | GB
