A solar street lighting project facilitated by Iloilo City Lone District Representative Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda has drawn public scrutiny after official records showed that each light post installed in two barangays in Mandurriao costs about ₱1.3 million.
Data published on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) website indicates that the project involves the installation of 30 solar street light posts, spanning from Barangay Hibao-an Sur to Barangay Hibao-an Norte. Based on the total project cost reflected in the records, the average price per post amounts to approximately ₱1.3 million, prompting questions from residents and observers about pricing and procurement.
According to the DPWH, the project was awarded by the DPWH Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) to St. Gerard Construction, a firm owned by Curlee and Sara Discaya. The awarding of the contract has attracted attention due to the high per-unit cost and the absence of community consultations before implementation.
Barangay officials from the affected areas confirmed that local stakeholders were not involved in the planning stage. Barangay Captain Ariel Mirar of Hibao-an Norte and Barangay Captain Rodlen Gallenero of Hibao-an Sur said that representatives from the ICDEO visited their barangays only to introduce themselves. However, they emphasized that no public consultation was held and no detailed briefing was provided to residents regarding the scope, cost, or timeline of the project.
In a radio interview, Rep. Baronda said the solar street lighting project would still push through, although she acknowledged that its implementation would be slightly delayed. She did not directly address concerns about the per-post cost during the interview.
The controversy surrounding the solar street lights comes amid broader questions about Baronda’s congressional allocations. Earlier reports by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) revealed that Baronda received more than ₱5 billion in allocable and non-allocable funds over the past three years. Separate media reports also showed that she received ₱1.75 billion worth of flood control projects during the term of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez as House Speaker.
Records further indicate that Baronda was allocated ₱945,985,191.41 in flood control funds in 2025, a sharp increase from ₱737.3 million in 2024 and ₱71.1 million in 2023. Documents show that three projects worth ₱425 million were awarded to St. Timothy Construction Corp., while another ₱150-million project went to Alpha & Omega General Contractor & Development Corp.
More recently, an unfinished 600-meter flood mitigation structure worth ₱400 million was discovered in Barangay Obrero, Lapuz. The project was reportedly funded through the congressional district office and implemented by the DPWH–Iloilo City District Engineering Office, further intensifying calls for transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.