It is not that simple to install new lamp posts inside the Rufina Golden Village. There are considerations, conditions, and alternatives to provide lamp posts to light up the entire subdivision.
The Developmental Concerns
In a post posted by one admin Cecil Santos, this concern started in 2018, admins of the Rufina Golden Village Homeowners Association began posting on its Facebook group, reminding residents to use outdoor lights of their house to be lit to prevent theft inside the village. Report to the admins if they have no street lights in their area, and if they’re complacent, install CCTV cameras.
For the homeowner’s role, this is what they’ll do:
A. Tighten the control of security at the gate for entering and exiting the village.
B. The admins will discuss what else could be done for the safety of its residents.
C. More installation of CCTV cameras.
D. Assigning patrolmen of two barangays (Rufina is integrated of two barangays, San Juan and Santo Cristo.) to frequently safeguard the village.
E. Contacting the Mayor (not specified) for an additional radio unit for the village.
In 2019, admin Cecil Santos posted an announcement informing of a new policy regarding street lights in the village.
If street lights were busted, the HOA and the Admin Maintenance will do the replacement work estimated of 3-4 days of working time.
Submit a request letter to the HOA admin for them to study the area.
Street lights are scheduled to turn on from 6pm to 5:30 AM
Message the officers to schedule the replacement. Only 9 watts is the budget they can afford, but it can reach up to 15 watts.
On July 13, 2020, they receive a report of busted street lights from the clubhouse of the subdivision up to its affected area. They have already reported it to the RGV admin to be fixed and done in the next few days. Another reminder for the safety of every resident affected by the busted street lights, they request to leave the light open outside the house, so that it is not too dark in their area. On August 12, it has been fixed.
Observation:
During my walk around Rufina, I noticed some street lights are powered by solar lights. At night, the outdoor lights of houses, their garages, terraces, and decoration light minimally, but when the houses are close together, the road is partially illuminated. I also notice in some houses that they have solar lights automatically lits up if someone walks in the light's position. In other parts of the subdivision, it’s completely dark. This is because, during an interview with a resident, there will be lights installed if there is a house or residence occupied in that area.
(This street light is powered by solar light)
Interview with the residents:
I use the messenger app to reach out for an interview. Sadly, I didn’t reach the target interviewees of seven for this interview because of circumstances like “seen” or really ignored at all. So I only got three residents who responded to my questions provided to them:
Transcribed from Filipino:
Good day, sorry for the inconvenience. My name is Thomas Catindig, also a resident of Rufina Golden Village. I’m just asking for your time to answer these questions. This is for my requirement project in the Journalism course at Bulacan State University. Thank you very much.
1. How long has it been taking action on the lighting problem?
2. Is this happening again in your area?
3. How do you contribute when there is a problem not only with lighting but also with other problems in our subdivision?
4. What can you say about the action taken to fix the lighting?
Here are the residents’ responses transcribed from Filipino.
Jocelyn Delas Alas, Housewife
1. During the first quarter of the year, the lamp post has been functional and repaired since 2019.
2. Not yet, because new solar lamp units have been installed.
3. For the problems that need quick action, we approach people who can help, such as the president of the homeowner’s association or other officers, or the subdivision admin.
4. Good, it helps especially to prevent robberies or accidents.
Christine Joy Ortiz-Crisostomo, Nurse
1. For the street lights repair, it also took quite a long time not to lose light within the subdivision.
2. I think it was just brownout in the new year but the reason was there was an affected pole outside the subdivision so the two barangays, Sto. Cristo and Atlag were affected.
3. I noticed that the subdivision owner had renovated much of the subdivision, so it was good to have concerned homeowners keep our place tidy.
4. If there are problems regarding within the subdivision, I salute the officials who continue to respond to the problems of homeowners.
Sol Tantoco, Registered Nurse and Midwife
1. The lighting problem is easy to take action here in Rufina because it is coordinated with the chairman of the homeowners and Meralco is immediately notified.
2. It really is unavoidable, especially if it is struck by lightning so it burns or doesn’t want to light it because it needs to be changed.
3. What I have probably contributed is that I can report to the chairman of the subdivision in case I see anything wrong or a problem within the vicinity of the subdivision.
4. I can say that the action they did on the street lights is fast and efficient.
Interview with an Admin.
I interviewed one of the admins of the Rufina Homeowners Association, Sir Cecil Santos. a senior area manager for Jollibee. I contacted him through messenger to answer my question provided to him:
Transcribed from Filipino:
Good day Sir Cecil, sorry for the inconvenience. My name is Thomas Catindig, also a resident of Rufina Golden Village. I’m just asking for your time to answer these questions. This is for my requirement project in the Journalism course at Bulacan State University. Thank you very much.
1. How long does it take to make or repair street lights?
2. Is there anyone else outside the subdivision to help with this problem?
3. When I walk around Rufina every morning, there are other parts of our subdivision that don’t have lamp posts yet. What was the basis of the selected poles that need to be lit or do not need to be lit?
4. Final question, what is more convenient for using light inside the village? Solar lights, street lights, or outdoor lights?
Here are his answers transcribed from Filipino:
1. The street lights are under the care of Rufina management because the village management has not yet turned them over to the Homeowners Association. So our process is still if there is a busted light, just report it to us. We endorse it with our village management, with the Homeowners Association the bulb, then Rufina will install it. If not a solar, about 2 weeks maybe takes as long as reported to us.
2. If busted lights and there’s nothing wrong, the admin can just have the bulb, but if the line is broken -we need to report it to Meralco.
3. Because the cost of the installment of the pole and Meralco is in the developer's care, so the basis is when there are houses that have 2 posts placed and residential, it equals to 1 street light. But now they put solar lights so sometimes we put street lights on a post because the solar lights are too bright.
4. If the light is okay, we use the Meralco lights, which are 18 watts, in which case it is a bit expensive in cost because it includes Meralco. For solar lights, however, the initial investment is high but economical because you can use it for 2 years before the battery breaks.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, they do not rush the installation of street lights, even if is using bulbs or solar. I can see they are doing well, coordinated, planned, and manageable in their actions. To improve the condition of the residents, they often advertise on their Facebook group to make the residents aware and updated. Currently, they are taking care of other problems, such as their current project regarding sanitation and waste management.
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