Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Partylist Representative Margarita Ignacia B. Nograles vowed to aggressively push for the approval of House Bill 6740 that seeks to expand the franchise area of Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC).
“Hopefully, hindi ito ma-veto. Ipaglalaban ko bilang sponsor ng HB dahil maraming nang kumausap dahil nahihirapan na sila. I-cha-champion ko at ipaglalaban ko ito and hopefully mapasa na dahil umakyat na hanggang sa Presidente,” Nograles said.
She filed this in January this year after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vetoed HB 10554, which would supposedly place Tagum City, Island Garden City of Samal, and the municipalities of Asuncion, Kapalong, New Corella, San Isidro, and Talaingod in Davao del Norte under the franchise area of DLPC.
The North Davao Electric Cooperative Inc. (Nordeco) currently provides service for the majority of areas in Davao del Norte until 2028 and Samal until 2033.
Nograles authored HB 6740 which seeks to expand the franchise of DLPC by including those same areas in the vetoed bill, and added the municipality of Maco in the Davao de Oro.
“Nasa committee level na ang bill for the expansion ng Davao Light and Power Company for the area of their expansion. Hopefully, by May we will have the second hearing. Pinag-aaralan natin intong clamor ng mga tao sa mga areas na gusto nilang pumasok na ang DLPC as far as I know maraming mga LGUs and business groups supporting the expansion dahil sa mataas na presyo ng kuryente at nahihirapan na ang mga tao,” Nograles said.
Last month, consumer group and the business sector in parts of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro provinces held a motorcade and protest to push for the passage of a law that will transfer their areas’ electricity distribution to DLPC, citing the continued inefficient service and high rates of Nordeco.
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin I. Jubahib supported the protest rally.
