AROUND 3,000 individuals and several other groups participated in the "Awareness Caravan" on the issue of electricity in Davao del Norte on Monday morning, March 13, 2023 in Tagum City.
The awareness caravan was led by the Davao Consumer Movement, Tagum City Chamber of Commerce, and other business groups who gave updates and share their sentiments on the current power woes in the province.
Businessman Larry Y. Rubinos, one of the promoters of the awareness caravan, said he is saddened because many businessmen are already raising concerns about their situation.
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib also held a press conference regarding the electricity issue later in the afternoon. He said he is supporting the petition that is currently in Congress to replace the electricity service provider Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Nordeco).
Jubahib said that privatization is one of the ways to solve the problem of electricity in the province.
"I will not make a personal attack if it is not for the benefit of the people of Davao del Norte, the electricity supply situation in District Two is good now, but here in District One, it is a big problem," Jubahib said on Monday afternoon, as he reiterated that he is no longer satisfied with the service of Daneco-Nordeco.
Jubahib also pointed out that if the high price of electricity and the lack of supply continue, it is likely that no investors will do business in the areas supplied by Nordeco anymore.
Meanwhile, Nordeco conducted a separate press conference to give an update on their efforts to address the electricity supply woes in their franchise area coverage.
According to Nordeco Acting General Manager Elvera Alngog, their consumers’ complaints will be answered through their current engagement with renewable power sources with the subsidy of one megawatt from the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the effort to place the submarine cable in the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos).
Residents of Igacos previously staged a protest outside Nordeco’s office to air their disappointment with the power cooperative’s service.
Nordeco said that they continue to take good steps to address the grievances of the people.
"Naningkamot gyud ang Nordeco nga wala'y curtailment, kinsa man gyo'y ganahan og curtailment nga nabati gyod namo unsay mga hinaing sa katawhan sa Samal Island. Wala gyud mi nagpasagad ug ang management ginabuhat ang tanan aron ma-solve ang problem in Samal (Nordeco is exerting all its efforts to prevent curtailment, who wants curtailment when we feel the grievances of the people of Samal Island. We are not lying idly, and the management is doing its best to solve the problem in Samal)," Alngog said.
The one-megawatt per unit of the Mindoro Grid Corporation (MGC) requested by Nordeco is also allegedly ready to supply enough electricity to the island.
In the 'No to Nordeco Services' rally and the gatherings led by the groups in Davao del Norte, Alngog said, "Dili kini babag aron kami padayon nga mohatag og serbisyo sa Isla, himuon namo kining hagit aron mas mapanindot pa ang among serbisyo ngadto sa katawhan duyog usab sa among makanunayong pag-ampo kay tungod luyo niining tanan, ang Nordeco still fighting (This is not a hindrance to give our service to the island. We will use this as a challenge to make our service better for the people, together with our fervent prayers as behind all of these, Nordeco is still fighting)." JPC