TACLOBAN CITY - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office 8 has announced a plan to light up the Tacloban City Bypass Road with solar LED streetlights and solar studs. The office, led by Regional Director Edgar B. Tabacon, has allocated a budget of Php 263 million for three contracts aimed at illuminating the 6.4-kilometer bypass road.
The budget allocation under the GAA 2023 includes Php 65 million for the contract involving the installation of solar studs, and Php 198 million for two contracts focused on the installation of solar LED streetlights.
According to RD Tabacon, the ongoing lighting project started in May and is expected to light up the entire stretch of the bypass road, from Nula-Tula village to Caibaan village, by October of this year.
This move follows the recent approval of using solar-powered street lights on public works projects, as outlined in Department Order No. 19, series of 2023, which provides standard design and guidelines for solar streetlight projects.
Solar studs, solar cell-powered LED lighting devices embedded in the road's centerline as an alternative to traditional cat's eyes, have already been visibly installed in some parts of the city. These devices, like streetlights, charge during daylight and activate at night, enhancing road visibility.
Project engineer Toribio R. Odtuhan added that the DPWH would also install safety mechanisms to minimize road accidents on the bypass road. These include regulatory signs, safety, and warning signs, pedestrian lanes using thermoplastic paint, rumble strips, and other pavement markings.
Additionally, a single safety roller barrier system will replace steel guardrails to reduce road accidents, especially in flat roads, curved or steep sections, and other accident-prone areas.
Upon completion, the project is expected to improve road navigation safety and convenience, particularly for motorists unfamiliar with the bypass road. —iTacloban (Source: DPWH-8)