The Benguet Electric Cooperative will again repair and maintain the streetlights in La Trinidad, Benguet.
This is after the successful mediation process where La Trinidad proposed to Beneco to assume the repair and maintenance of the town’s unmetered streetlights.
“We are pleased to inform [the local governnent that the counter proposal of La Trinidad regarding the repair and maintenance of streetlights within the municipality has been favorably acted upon by the Beneco board of directors,” Beneco’s Officer-In-Charge General Manager Melchor Licoben said in a letter to Mayor Romeo Salda.
In the proposal, Beneco shall bill La Trinidad for 12 burning hours for the first four years. In the fifth year until 2028, Beneco shall bill the LGU for 14 burning hours.
Repair and maintenance will commence upon confirmation of receipt of the letter pending the signing of the contract by both parties, Licoben said.
Salda said they are waiting for the memorandum of agreement that would be signed by both parties.
La Trinidad earlier filed a case last January against Beneco for alleged breach of contract over the maintenance of its streetlights. Both parties entered into a contract for the maintenance of streetlights on Sept. 13, 2008 where both agreed that Beneco would maintain and install additional non-metered streetlights in the town.
On April 27, 2019, Beneco said it would halt its maintenance of the town’s streetlights to which the latter objected.
As of Jan. 7, there are 2,426 unmetered streetlights in the town installed by Beneco according to the Municipal Engineer’s Office.
The mayor said he has requested Beneco to immediately look at the critical areas with streetlights that needed to be fixed.
The Department of Public Works and Highways would be in charge of streetlights installed along national roads.
Salda said the DPWH would continue what the Road Board started since there are funds to illuminate the stretch of the Halsema Highway from Km. 3 to 6. – Ofelia C. Empian
