SENATOR Christopher Lawrence 'Bong' Go said he will look into Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, Inc.'s (Nordeco) promise to address the power crisis the electric cooperative has caused.
Go, who is the senate vice chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee and a member of the committee on energy in the Senate, that he has been following Nordeco's actions in addressing the power woes in some of its serviced areas in the province.
Go's speech during an event in Tagum City, Davao del Norte was cut short after a brownout happened affecting the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
The senator was the special guest during the pay-out of the beneficiaries of the Assistance to Individuals in crisis situations (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) when the power interruption happened.
Go said during the senate hearing that Nordeco officials assured its consumer-members that they will address all concerns in its power supply, particularly in the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) in June this year.
"Tinanong ko sila, so sinabi nila, yung problema sa Samal Island, ingon nila by June naa na sila ay solusyon (When I asked the officials of Nordeco regarding the concern, they said they will provide solution in Samal by June)," Go said.
He said he will follow if this promise was made because he said many people will be affected if there is no electricity.
"Susubaybayan ko po sila parati sa kanilang pangako... lisod kaayo nga walay kuryente, apektado ang tanan, daut atong appliances, daut atong pagkaon, walay tubig, pati atong trabaho apektado (I will monitor them if they had fulfilled their promise... It's hard to have no electricity for everyone will be affected, appliances will be destroyed, the food will be spoiled, also there will be no water supply, and most of all, all work will be affected)," the Dabawenyo senator said.
With this, the senator called on Nordeco to fix their service since the consumers will be paying as long as the service is delivered well.
"Nananawagan po ako sa provider po dito sa Davao del Norte, ayusin naman po ninyo ang serbisyo ninyo, nagbabayad naman po ang mga kababayan natin dito sa Davao del Norte ng tama, at willing po sila magbayad, basta lang po, ibalik nyo po sa maayos na serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan (I am calling the electric provider in Davao del Norte to fix your service since the people are willing to pay accurately as long as you provide good service to our fellowmen)," he said.
As a member of the committee on energy, Go assured the residents of the province that this development will be monitored.
As of writing, Nordeco has not yet issued any statement in relation to Go's statement.
Recently, the Igacos government issued an official statement for the resolution created by the 9th City Council due to the ongoing "power crisis."
According to Resolution No. 734 s. 2023 passed on March 16, 2023, it declared the entire island under state of calamity due to the ongoing power woes.
In a previous report, Senator Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate committee on energy, told SunStar Davao in an event in Manila that Nordeco should step up its performance or else, allow other power distribution firms to serve its franchise area.
Nordeco, formerly known as Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Daneco), has been criticized by its consumers for its failure to provide a stable power supply to its area coverage.
In the previous years, the management was divided into two factions, resulting in the national government, under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte stepping in and resolving the issue.
Gatchalian said the management's rebranding didn't reflect improved changes.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, nearly a month since assuming the presidency, vetoed House Bill No. 10554, which would have expanded the coverage area of the Davao Light to the cities of Tagum and Island Garden City of Samal and the towns of Talaingod, Asuncion, Kapalong, San Isidro and New Corella in Davao del Norte. The areas are currently serviced by Nordeco, which has been criticized by key officials in the province and some of its member-consumer-owners (MCOs) due to frequent brownouts and poor service.
Three bills related to Davao Light's expansion have been filed in the House of Representatives. As of writing, no bills were filed at the Senate. Although, Dabawenyo Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa had voiced his opinion on the current power woe in the province. With reports from Ralph Lawrence G. Llemit