Lighting of town's coastal barangays under way

CEBU, Philippines – Legwork for the street lighting project in Liloan town is now being done, and Mayor Vincent “Duke” Frasco wants the coastal barangays to be prioritized because these are where visitors often pass by.

As of now, the street lighting project is now at the municipal council level wherein funds will be allocated.

Frasco stressed that all barangays can ask assistance from the municipality in lighting up their streets. The town could give them electric bulbs and posts, he added.

Meanwhile, the municipal council’s committee on tourism and historical affairs is studying the request of barangay Poblacion on the heritage preservation bug and move to strengthen efforts for the preservation of old structures.

In a resolution recently passed, the barangay council asked the municipal council to make a declaration to preserve some structures within Poblacion, such as the San Fernando Rey Parish and the Balay Pilapil.

Poblacion barangay captain Lyle Ulrich L. Cañete presented the resolution, which was initiated by Councilor Sebastian Canoy, to the town council. The barangay officials pointed out that the San Fernando Church and the Balay Pilapil are both legacies of the past and considered links to local history.

In response, the municipal council moved to renew the declaration of the two buildings as heritage structures.

The old “Balay Pilapil” is located a few meters from the whirling waters of Silot Bay and is the ancestral house of the family of actress Pilar Pilapil. It is one of the very few old houses left in Liloan.

The San Fernando Rey Parish Church, on the other hand, is as old as the town itself and is now threatened by the plan to have the end of the north coastal road right in front of it. — Garry B. Lao/WAB (THE FREEMAN)