Anomalies encompass solar streetlights - Magalong

Metro Manila, Philippines - The plot thickens on the hot button billions in government project corruption as a mayor advocating good governance said the irregularity is present as well in the government solar streetlight project.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Tuesday, Sept. 2, flagged missing lamp posts, shorter poles, and grossly inflated prices, adding that his team discovered discrepancies in project documents and actual installations.

“Nung nagbilang kami, dapat ang total na poste is about 1,300. Ang nabilang pa lang namin ay 691… Pero layo naman ng 1,200 to 750,” he said.

[Translation: When we counted, there should have been about 1,300 posts. We only counted 691… Even if we allow for errors, 750 is still far from 1,200.]

He said the installed lamp posts were shorter than the specified nine to 10 meters, measuring only 7.48 to 8.30 meters.

Magalong also cited massive overpricing.

“Alam mo ba… ang nakita kong detailed unit price analysis, 157,000 yan. Pero ang true cost niyan is about 34,000 hanggang 46,000 depending on the lumens,” he said.

[Translation: Did you know… I saw in the detailed unit price analysis that it was priced at ₱157,000, but its actual cost is only ₱34,000 to ₱46,000 depending on the lumens.]

Magalong said the irregularities in the solar light program reflected a pattern of corruption in public works, adding that he hopes the planned independent commission to be created by President Bongbong Marcos will also look into these corrupt activities as well.