Dabawenyos old enough to be conscious of the various kinds of public service like potable water system, electricity and irrigation systems should be familiar with the impressive story of the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (DANECO), recently renamed North Davao Electric Cooperative or NORDECO.
DANECO was among the hundreds of electric utilities established by the Philippine government in an effort to establish rural electrification in the 60’s and 70’s led then by Vice President Emmanuel Pelaez, the one and only politician from Mindanao to hold the second highest elective position in the country.
The venerable congressman Lorenzo S. Sarmiento, the man behind the division of the undivided Davao Province into 3, was also hands on in the creation of DANECO.
One day, he talked to two rising politicians of the new-created Davao del Norte province in the persons of Montevista Mayor Jose Amacio and Panabo Mayor Gregorio Dujali and asked them who would like to leave politics and become the general manager of the new electric cooperative instead.
Mayor Amacio, the poor boy from Calinan, Davao City, chose to manage DANECO, while mayor Dujali interposed no obligation as he had his eyes fixed on becoming the province’s governor someday.
True enough, Dujali was later elected provincial governor many times, while Amacio became a multi-awarded GM and DANECO, a multi-awarded electric coop.
Fast forward to 2022, the country’s legislature approved NORDECO’s franchise transferred to privately-owned Davao Light and Power Co., Inc.
Anyare? To borrow the colloquial Tagalog version of “Ano ang nangyari?” (What happened?)
It is alleged by elected officials of Davao del Norte and mucipalities, including the cities of Tagum and Samal that NORDECO’s service had deteriorated through the years.
Despite NORDECO’s poor service, it is accused of imposing an electric rate higher than in Davao City, Davao Light’s main franchise area.
While a few people for sentimental reason want to retain NORDECO’s service, most Dabawenyos want a change.
This is not the end of this story though. We foresee a long court battle ahead. However, there is always a middle ground, wherein NORDECO will not lose everything and end its other glorious history sadly.
The leaders of Davao del Norte and maybe Davao de Oro who happened to be in opposite sides of the political fence will hopefully realize that there is a happy solution somewhere.
