Streetlights for Tacloban

We should have sent this letter months back, but we decided to wait for more developments from the ongoing rehabilitation efforts being undertaken by and for every surviving family in Tacloban City, each of which has become a source of strength and inspiration to one another. That more than 50 percent of the city’s pre-“Yolanda” population decided to remain in Tacloban and stand up for the city is a thought worth cherishing. It reaffirms our confidence in the resilience and tenacity of the true Taclobanons.

Of course, we have not forgotten and we remain grateful to all persons, institutions and entities, public or private, that empathized with us during a most trying situation and showed compassion through generous donations in cash, in kind, and services.

We remember Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla who, despite the general skepticism, boldly and confidently raised the hope of an emotionally and mentally battered people with the promise that power will be restored before Christmas Day of 2013, although he delivered short by about 5 percent. Still, to him, our thanks.

We also recognize the management of the Leyte II Electric Cooperative Inc. for their unrelenting efforts to restore power as fast as possible; and we thank the National Electrification Administration and the  management of all the private distribution utilities and electric cooperatives in other parts of the country that came  with their technical crew and equipment to help our city and neighboring towns gain access to the much-needed supply of electricity.

With power supply restored, the local government should now be in a position to install streetlights even just along the city’s main roads—starting with the road from the airport down to City Hall and with the Marasbaras and V&G/diversion roads. The people of a “highly urbanized city” like Tacloban deserve to be provided with the amenity of streetlights. We hope this happens soonest, before the city gets branded as a “ghost city.”

—PETE L. ILAGAN,

president,

National Association of Electricity

Consumers for Reforms,

pete@nasecore.org