Baguio lights terms up for council deliberation

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan on Wednesday led an executive-legislative meeting to firm up the proposed terms of reference (TOR) for the street and government building light replacement and management venture using the Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology which is up for city council scrutiny.

The mayor said both the technical working committee which drafted the TOR led by city administrator Carlos Canilao and the council committee on laws under Councilor Richard Carino agreed that the TOR should be geared towards obtaining the best offer to improve the lighting service along streets and public buildings.

“It is understood that our direction will be to better serve the lighting needs of our constituents so the terms should help us achieve that goal,” the mayor said.

  

 During the meeting, the parties agreed to adjust the terms to acquire the best offer in terms of quality and time factor.

The mayor said they agreed not to limit the competence gauge for the proponent companies to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) international management standards but also to include other internationally recognized or accredited evaluation agencies or organizations.

 They also agreed that the period for completion of the project would be not more than 12 months.

 The parties will also refine the proposed provision on sharing agreement by weighing options for computing the base consumption using the present 10 burning hours being utilized by the city vis-à-vis the 12-burning hour consumption.  

 The mayor tasked technical working group member assistant city accountant AlmayaAdawe to fast-track the computations to determine the more advantageous formula for incorporation in the proposed TOR.

 The mayor said the body also agreed to include in the terms the giving of priority to local companies that will tender offers for the management venture albeit they will also welcome offers from foreign firms.

 Carino’s committee will collate the agreed terms for presentation to the city council in its next session on October 15.

  

The mayor said the project will be published for bidding after it gained the nod of the city council.

The city council earlier approved Resolution No. 446 series of 2011 providing the TOR for the streetlight management deal with a qualified company but a refinement was sought by the BAC.

Under the venture, the city hopes to cut down its power costs through a cost-saving share scheme with a qualified company.

The city at present incurs P42.32 million electric bill per year for a total of 8,200 lighting fixtures lighting streets, alleys, parks, overpasses and flyovers plus P24.08 million for the lighting of government offices and schools.

The winning firm is expected to undertake replacement at no expense to the city within six months upon signing of the contract and to take charge of the repair and maintenance of all installed LED lighting equipment for a period of 12 years.