DAVAO CITY – Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. (Davao Light), a subsidiary of AboitizPower, successfully energized 10 sitios and provided electricity to over 300 households in the remote Barangay Malabog, located in the Paquibato District. The milestone was celebrated through a ceremonial switch-on event held at the barangay gymnasium last May, attended by officials from Davao Light, representatives from the City Government of Davao, the barangay council, and the elated residents of Barangay Malabog.
Barangay Captain Jessielito Areja expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Davao Light and the City Government of Davao for this transformative initiative. “We’re very lucky in Brgy. Malabog as our sitios are now 90% energized! Even the sitios with no constructed roads yet now have electricity,” he stated during his speech.
The impact of this electrification project has been significant, evident from the testimonials of the residents. Julius, a resident of Sitio Taloytoy, shared how electricity has positively influenced their daily lives and productivity. “Since it becomes too dark in the evenings, we need to eat dinner by five o’clock so we retire from working in our fields at three o’clock. Now that we have electricity, we’re able to adjust our work hours. Now, we can tend to our fields until five o’clock,” he said.
Moreover, the availability of electricity has enabled the residents to improve their quality of life. They can now purchase groceries in bulk and preserve them in their refrigerators, making food storage easier and reducing food wastage.
Marlyn, a food vendor operating near the local elementary school in Sitio KTC, shared the positive impact on her business. “We’re happy to have an extra source of income, such as selling iced water to students. Having a refrigerator also helps keep our ingredients fresh, as the food we sell would quickly go bad without it,” she enthused.
For Lilia, a farmer from Sitio Binaton, the electrification project has transformed her business operations. “We’d start packing the vegetables early in the morning and then deliver them by seven o’clock in the evening. Otherwise, we needed to deliver them early in the morning as there was no electricity and the roads were not fully constructed yet at that time,” she explained during an interview.
The successful Sitio Electrification Project (SEP) by Davao Light is part of its commitment to connecting far-flung communities to the power grid, thereby empowering these areas with essential resources for a better future. The SEP has achieved a commendable milestone, with the current completion rate reaching 99%.
The electrification of Barangay Malabog exemplifies Davao Light’s dedication to enhancing the lives of the communities it serves. By providing electricity to remote areas, the power company not only uplifts the standard of living for the residents but also opens up new opportunities for economic growth and development.
As Davao Light continues to illuminate lives through its Sitio Electrification Project, it is evident that progress and empowerment go hand in hand, lighting the way for a brighter and more promising future for the people of Barangay Malabog and beyond. (Davao Light)
