BY LEE JOSHUA L. SARDOMA & ALJAVE M. MONTEROLA/DNSC Interns
COUNCILOR Diosdado Angelo Mahipus Jr. raised renewed concerns over road safety along the Davao City coastal road after encountering another vehicular accident near the Bucana area.
Mahipus emphasized the need for consistent and adequate lighting across all sections of the highway.
“I was able to pass by another vehicular accident in the vicinity of Bucana,” Mahipus said during his privilege speech on Tuesday’s regular session, April 7.
Mahipus noted that while streetlamps have already been installed on several portions of the coastal road, there is still a noticeable inconsistency in their brightness and overall quality.
Motorists passing from the well-lit Bucana Bridge into dimmer areas ahead may experience reduced visibility, increasing the risk of accidents.
“You can really see the difference when passing the Bucana Bridge compared to other areas,” he stressed.
Mahipus explained that the uneven lighting conditions may be due to the phase-by-phase implementation of the coastal road project.
The project was planned and awarded at different times to various contractors, resulting in varying standards and specifications for infrastructure such as lighting systems.
He added that there were reported challenges in the Aplaya portion of the road, where underground lighting could not be installed because the facilities did not meet the standards required by Davao Light.
There were also allegations that electrical wiring in the area had been stolen, preventing the completion of the planned lighting system.
“There is no way to install the lighting as planned because the wiring was reportedly stolen,” he said.
With the next phase of the coastal road—from Bucana to Sta. Ana and extending toward Agdao—expected to open soon, the councilor called for sufficient and high-quality lighting to be included in the upcoming sections to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians.
The city councilor warned that if proper lighting is not integrated during the construction phase, the city government may eventually have to allocate additional funds to address deficiencies.
He stressed that safety should already be prioritized in the planning and execution stages of the project rather than being corrected afterward.
The city council moved to invite representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Davao Light and Power Company for the next regular session to tackle appropriate action on the matter.
