The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has released new guidelines that set the standard designs for solar-powered roadway lighting to be installed along national roads.

DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, through Department Order No. 19, series of 2023, issued the standard design drawings, following the approval on the use of solar-powered street lights on public works projects.

“In future DPWH projects with street light components, we hope to utilize solar-powered roadway lightings considering its stability, long service life, ease of installation, safety, and of course, energy efficiency, making it ideal for use alongside both new and existing roads,” said Secretary Bonoan.

DO 19 will serve as the reference of DPWH Regional Offices, District Engineering Offices, Unified Project Management Office Clusters, and DPWH in preparations of the design plans on road project.

The technical requirements of the DO include: street lights must be uniform and free from dark bands or abrupt variations; could be high pressure sodium (HPS) or light emitting diode (LED) lighting; color temperature can vary between warm white and warm yellow and the use of ultraviolet light is prohibited; suitable for outdoor use and rated as ingress protection (IP) 65 per International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

For primary national roads, light arrangement may vary from single, axial, opposite, or staggered; secondary roads may use single, opposite, or staggered lighting arrangement; while tertiary roads may use single or staggered lighting arrangement.

To ensure there is enough light sources on the traveled path the DO also sets lamp wattage, mounting height, spacing, use of pole arms, depending on road classification, width, number of lanes, and taking into consideration intersections and merging sections that require higher level of illumination.(DPWH)