LONG suffering from what has been alleged as expensive yet incompetent service from Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco), the electric consumers of Davao del Norte can now see a glimmer of hope, as no less than the President's son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, together with a full-blooded Davaoeña, PBA Rep. Margarita Nograles, have sponsored a bill calling for the transfer of power distribution to a private firm — Davao Light and Power.
House Bill 6740, entitled "An Act Including Tagum City, the Island Garden City Of Samal, and the Municipalities Of Asuncion, Kapalong, New Corella, San Isidro and Talaingod, in the Province of Davao del Norte, and the Municipality of Maco, in the Province of Davao de Oro to the Franchise Area of the Davao Light and Power Company, Inc., Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 11515, entitled 'An Act Extending for Another Twenty-Five (25) Years the Franchise Granted to the Davao Light and Power Company, Inc.,' Under Republic Act 8960, entitled 'An Act Further Extending the Term of The Franchise Granted to Davao Light and Power Company, Inc. to Construct, Operate and Maintain an Electric Light, Heat and Power System in Davao City and the Municipalities of Carmen, Panobo, Dujali and Santo Tomas, Province Of Davao Del Norte, For A Period Of Twenty-Five (25) Years and or Other Purposes,'" is principally authored by Nograles. In it, the lawmakers lament that Davao del Norte consumers in the cities of Tagum and the resort island city of Samal, among others, pay more than P5/kWh, although they have to suffer power fluctuations and poor service, while their neighboring municipalities and cities just across the street experience much cheaper power and far better service.
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