TAGUM CITY (December 2) – Fed up with years of brownouts and high electricity bills, the Davao del Norte provincial board has voted to oppose the renewal of the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative’s (Nordeco) franchise, echoing long-standing frustrations of communities from Tagum to Samal.
In its Nov. 25 session, the 20th Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved Resolution No. 1182, urging Congress to reconsider Nordeco’s franchise, which expires in 2028. The measure passed 13–1, with only Board Member Orly Amit voting “no.”
Board Member Al David T. Uy said the resolution mirrors what residents have been complaining about for years: unreliable power, steep rates, and stalled local development—especially in the Island Garden City of Samal.
“Dili na ni bag-o. Samal residents have lived with daily power issues for years. How can we attract investors when electricity is inefficient and expensive?” Uy said.
Communities have long linked unstable electricity to lost business opportunities, spoiled food, disrupted online classes, and weakened tourism—issues repeatedly raised during barangay consultations.
Board Member Wendel Enad added that while legal challenges over Davao Light’s expanded franchise are pending before the Supreme Court, the province cannot ignore the public outcry.
“This resolution is the people’s voice,” he said.
Amit, however, warned that opposing Nordeco’s renewal risks creating a monopoly, stressing that the Constitution bars monopolies in public services and that consumers need competition, not a single provider.
Alongside the vote, the SP also approved a resolution calling for a smooth, orderly transition of electrical services in the province.
RA 12144, which lapsed into law in April, expands Davao Light’s franchise to Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro—an outcome many residents hope will finally bring stable, affordable electricity after decades of frustration.
