by A Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan Thursday said the city will restudy the offer of the Benguet Electric Cooperative Inc. (BENECO) to manage the city’s unmetered streetlights.

The mayor said he tasked members of the Local Finance Committee (LFC) to reconcile its data and determine if a “win-win” situation can be achieved for both parties.

The power firm last year offered to take over the operation of the streetlights from the city engineer’s office and even conducted an experimental management run for nine months to prove the advantages of their set-up.

The power firm’s management proved more advantageous but the city council and the local finance committee balked at its permanent take-over due to the added cost it will entail.

BENECO’s management offer would increase the number of hours being billed from ten to 12 burning hours and city officials felt the cost would be prohibitive for the city.

But the mayor said this would remain under consideration by the city which up to now is beseeched by complaints on defective bulbs and delayed replacement of damaged fixtures.

Councilor Joel Alangsab who during last Monday’s executive-legislative meeting aired the barangay captains’ complaints on damaged fixtures in their barangays reported that after the BENECO experiment, 95 percent of the barangay captains expressed preference for the power firm’s management as it was more efficient and effective as promised by the power firm.

BENECO, in its offer, promised that under its management, the problems presently encountered by the residents particularly the delayed replacement of damaged fixtures and inconsistent switch on and off of the system leading to power wastage will be eradicated.

Domogan said all these concerns will be up for consideration by the finance committee. – *CMO-PIO