DAVAO Light and Power Company Inc. (DLPC) urged the public to pay their electricity bills online or through authorized payment centers such as pawnshops near them to avoid flocking to the utility's payment centers and to follow social distancing measures.
This came after people have reportedly formed long queues at Victoria Plaza on Monday, April 13, to pay their bills due to fears of being disconnected.
DLPC assistant vice president for reputation enhancement Rossano Luga said DLPC has set up online payment options such as Coins.ph, GCash, UnionBank Online Application, and Paymaya.
For those who do not have access online, he said they can also pay through pawnshops near their area aside from the DLPC Bayad Centers.
The power utility's authorized collection partners are LBC, CIS Bayad Centers, USSC-Western Union, Villarica Pawnshops, Philpost, RD Pawnshops, 7/11 stores, all outlets of Cebuana Lhuillier and M. Lhuillier, Union Banks in Quirino, Rizal, Cabaguio Avenue, Magsaysay, and Monteverde Streets, Banco de Oro (BDO) branches in streets R. Magsaysay, Claveria, Sta. Ana, and Security Bank branches in Rizal, R. Magsaysay, and Monteverde Streets, among others.
The public can also pay at Savemore branches in Bangkal and Bajada.
Luga also clarified that while the consumers received notices of disconnections, their electricity will not be immediately cut.
He said the company sends out notices of disconnection after a consumer fails to pay their electric bills for two billing periods or equivalent to 60 days of unpaid bills.
However, since DLPC has announced giving a 30-day payment extension for all the bills due on March 15 to April 14, 2020 due to the current health crisis, he said the company will not automatically disconnect their client's power supply upon the receipt of the disconnection notice.
The advisory was posted on March 19 on their official Facebook page.
"Tungod sa panghitabo, katong due date nga inclusive period from March 15 to April 14, wala to siyay surcharge (Due to the current crisis, no surcharges shall be collected with those whose due dates are from March 15 to April 15)," he said.
"By April 15, in effect na ang disconnection notice pero that does not mean putlan na dayon kay naa pa man ECQ (Disconnection notice will take effect on April 15 but disconnection won't immediately take effect due to the Enhanced Community Quarantine)," Luga added.
In a radio interview Monday, April 13, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the DLPC's system is automated, thus the public received the notices.
"Pero naghatag man ang DLPC og 30-day extension para masettle ang accounts (DLPC gave 30-day extension to settle accounts)," she said.