While solar street lights are a welcome addition for better nighttime visibility, their placement can sometimes defeat their purpose. Along the center island of Kauswagan Highway in Cagayan de Oro City, newly installed lights are partially blocked by tree canopies. Since the poles are only slightly taller than the trees, the light doesn’t reach the road properly. Without regular pruning, the lights may end up being ineffective—and a waste of public funds.
In some sections, there are also solar street lights by the roadside.
Below are photos taken last month (March). You can observe tree shadows on the road. The trees will eventually grow in the coming rainy season.
The trees should be pruned regularly, otherwise, the solar street light will just be waste of people’s money.
Compare with the similar solar lighting installations in Gusa below where its main purpose is optimized with absence of tall trees at the center island.
