WITH A stroke of a pen, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. can ultimately end the power woes of the people, including the businessmen, of at least 16 towns and two cities in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro provinces.
This is the common sentiment prevailing in the franchise area of the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco), which has been the target of complaints for widely perceived “sloppy services and frequent power outages” that stunted the areas’ economic growth.
However, a proposed law now awaiting the President’s signature is seen as a game-changer in the two Davao provinces.
“A robust and stable power supply is essential to socio-economic prosperity. It is critical in attracting investments, creating jobs, and in uplifting communities,” Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Ignacio Jubahib said in a statement.
“For this reason, it is disheartening that the province of Davao del Norte finds it difficult to lure big investors and accelerate economic growth with the unstable power supply, higher electricity rates, and poor services provided by Nordeco,” he added.
Among the organizations keeping their fingers crossed on the enactment of Senate Bill 2888 are the Tagum City Chamber of Commerce, Tagum Central SDA Church, Samal Chamber of Commerce, Samal Tourism Council, Samal Island Beach Resort Association, Samal City Agriculture & Fishery Council, Mabini (Davao de Oro) Chamber of Commerce, Samal Island Food Establishment Association, Samal Island Water Refilling Station, and the Mabini Protected Area Beach Resort Operators.
“Residents and businesses in the local government units under its franchise have long been suffering from inefficient services hampering progress in these areas,” the statement read.
Jubahib also asserted that despite numerous customer complaints and repeated appeals from LGU officials and business groups, “Nordeco has made little progress in addressing the pressing issues that have plagued our communities for far too long.”
“The utility has constantly demonstrated its inability to reduce system loss, increase collection efficiency, and improve services,” he said.
“This is a blatant disservice to our people, which I cannot stand idly by as our people continue to endure the hardships. My genuine concern for the welfare of our people prompted me to initiate public consultations and information campaigns to adequately inform my constituents on the electricity problem, which is a ‘public welfare’ issue,” the governor stated.
“Our people must know about the implications and the options available in addressing it. This was driven by my moral obligation and avowed mandate to serve the best interests of our people. Instead, I was slapped with an added 30-day suspension last year for pushing this agenda,” Jubahib stressed.
Meanwhile, he lauded the Senate’s passage of a measure expanding the franchise area of the Davao Light Power Co. to cover Tagum City and the towns of Asuncion, Kapalong, New Corella, San Isidro and Talaingod in District 1 of Davao del Norte, as well as the Island Garden City of Samal in District 2.
Jubahib noted that Davao Light is comparatively a far more capable power distributor, with a proven track record in providing “adequate, stable and affordable electricity.”
“The ball is now in the hands of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., and we hope that he will listen to the loud cry of the people this time around for robust and reliable electricity critical to the prosperity of the province,” Jubahib said.
Senate Bill No. 2888, which seeks to expand the franchise area of the Davao Light, was transmitted to Malacañang for the President’s enactment on March 6, 2025, following the Senate’s ratification of the proposed law.
