The Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) needs reliable power for progress, and its city officials believe Davao Light and Power Co. can provide it.
Senate Bill No. 2888/House Bill No. 11072, which needs President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s signature to become a law, would expand Davao Light’s franchise to include Samal, Tagum, and other parts of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro. These areas are currently served by North Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco), which has received customer complaints about frequent power outages.
“Nordeco has repeatedly failed to deliver stable and affordable electricity. Consumer complaints often go unresolved, leaving entire communities powerless and hopeless,” said Nic Satur Jr., chief advocate officer of Partners for Affordable & Reliable Energy (PARE), a coalition of consumers and energy sector stakeholders.
Meanwhile, Nordeco penned an open letter to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on January 30, arguing that “while DLPC is a long-established entity, its business model has historically focused on financially viable areas. It is unlikely that the company would be willing or able to assume the same level of commitment to rural electrification that Nordeco has steadfastly maintained.”
(Also read: Senate Approves Davao Light’s Franchise Expansion)
Powering progress with energy projects
According to IGACOS Mayor Al David Uy, power issues have cost Samal Island an annual average of P125 million in economic losses since 2021. Annual losses amount to P50 million in the tourism sector, P30 million among local businesses, P20 million in fisheries, P15 million in households, and P10 million in public services and infrastructure.
“Dili na mi kaagwanta (We could not take it anymore). That’s why we need to do something to solve the problem,” Mayor Uy said.
(Also read: DOE Mindanao in need of more energy sources for energy security)
Last July 2024, the Samal City government spent P300 million to build a submarine cable that will eventually link the island to Davao Light.
Early this month, the resort island unveiled its 500-kilovolt ampere (KVA) grid-tie Renewable Energy Project. The fifty million-peso project, which doubles as a parking area for around 150 vehicles, will power the city hall, police station, tourist rest area, and a new public market.
At the unveiling ceremony, Mayor Uy thanked the implementing companies, HG Agri Industrial Machineries and Greenergy Development Corporation, for their unfailing support in realizing the project.
Sources:
https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=19&q=SBN-2888
https://web.senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=19&q=HBN-11072
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/nordeco-appeals-to-pbbm-prevent-passage-of-bill
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1227905
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1956824/samal-govt-eyes-submarine-cable-for-stable-power-supply
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/p50-m-re-project-in-igacos-to-provide-power-parking-space
https://samalcity.gov.ph/news-article/samal-leaps-to-progress-in-power-with-renewable-energy-project
