THERE is now a silver lining for residents of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro wanting improved power services after Davao lawmakers filed House Bills (HB) 6740 and 6695, which would expand Davao Light Power and Co.’s (Davao Light) franchise area in some towns and cities in these provinces.
“This bill seeks to expand Davao Light’s franchise to establish, operate, and maintain, for commercial purposes and in the public interest, a distribution system for the conveyance of electric power to the end-users,” Atty. Margarita Ignacia Nograles of PBA party-list, the proponent of HB 6740, said in her explanatory note.
Nograles said the expansion would cover the Municipalities of Asuncion, Kapalong, New Corella, San Isidro, and Talaingod, and in the City of Tagum and the Island Garden City of Samal, and all in the Province of Davao Del Norte, and the Municipality of Maco in the Province of Davao de Oro.
She said the bill in effect should amend Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, Inc.’s (Nordeco) existing franchise area and will be reduced “in accordance with the transitory provision included in the bill.”
Aside from HB 6740, on January 31, lawmakers Alan Dujali from the Second District of Davao del Norte Representative and Maricar Zamora from the First District of Davao de Oro Representative filed HB No. 6695.
Dujali said the filed HB 6695 should amend the Republic Act No. 11515 “which extends the franchise of Davao Light for another twenty-five years in the Municipalities of Carmen, Santo Tomas, B.E. Dujali, and Panabo City, to include the Island Garden City of Samal, which is currently being served by the Nordeco.”
He said on his Facebook Page, one of the reasons they have pushed HB 6695 is to resolve the demand for power supply in the areas as it has significantly increased which Norderco failed to comply with.
“Due to the inability of Nordeco to improve its infrastructure, IGaCoS has been experiencing insufficient and unstable power supply,” Dujali said.
Meanwhile, Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib welcomed HB 6740 which was filed by Nograles.
“HB 6740, if enacted into law, is a major milestone for the province of Davao del Norte as the expansion of the energy services provided by Davao Light will bring about a positive change to the lives of our constituents, providing them with reliable and efficient power supply. This will lead to a more sustainable and productive environment, driving economic growth and development in Davao del Norte,” Jubahib said in a press statement on February 7, 2023.
Jubahib said HB 6740 is a “necessary piece of legislation that must be passed into law.”
“For far too long, the residents of Davao del Norte have suffered from the perennial problem of unstable power supply and exorbitant power rates. This has hindered the growth and development of our province, and it is time for this to change,” he said.
It can be recalled that a month after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. assumed the position, he vetoed HB 10554 which expands the operation of Davao Light as it violates a provision in the constitution that provides Nordeco's franchise in the province that is yet to expire in 2028 and 2033. KSD