The Davao Consumer Movement (DCM) has appealed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ahead of his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, to implement long-term reforms that would ease the financial burden of rising fuel and electricity costs on consumers in Mindanao.
The group warned that escalating energy prices continue to drive up the cost of living nationwide.
In an open letter addressed to the President, the consumer advocacy group said Mindanawons continue to struggle with rising grocery prices, transportation costs, and electricity bills. It noted that these economic pressures are also affecting food prices nationwide, as Mindanao remains one of the country’s primary food-producing regions.
“The Mindanawon consumer has it rough. Every trip to the grocery, every ride to work, and every monthly electricity bill reminds families across Mindanao that the cost of living continues to rise,” the group said.
DCM noted that fuel prices have climbed sharply since the start of 2026, driven by global oil market volatility and tensions in the Middle East.
It added that diesel prices in parts of the Davao Region have reached nearly P90 per liter, increasing operating costs for motorists, businesses, and industries.
The group also pointed to rising electricity rates across Mindanao, saying higher generation costs, power plant outages, and greater dependence on the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) have contributed to higher monthly power bills.
It cited data showing that residential electricity rates increased between December 2025 and June 2026 across several Mindanao distribution utilities, with Davao Light and Power Company posting the largest increase.
While acknowledging the government’s fuel subsidies and electricity bill relief measures, the organization said these interventions provide only temporary assistance.
“We recognize the efforts of your administration to cushion consumers through temporary fuel subsidies, electricity bill relief measures, and interventions during periods of high energy prices. These measures have provided much-needed assistance. However, they address only the immediate symptoms of the problem rather than its underlying causes,” the letter stated.
The DCM called on the national government to adopt several long-term reforms, including establishing a fuel price stabilization mechanism, reducing or removing the 12% value-added tax (VAT) on components of electricity bills, reviewing pass-through charges imposed on consumers, accelerating investments in new power generation and transmission facilities, and lowering production costs in the agricultural sector to help keep food prices affordable.
The group stressed that affordable fuel and electricity are essential to economic growth and household welfare, urging the administration to pursue structural reforms instead of relying on temporary relief programs.
“Mr. President, Mindanawons are not asking for temporary relief; they are asking for lasting solutions. Affordable fuel and affordable electricity are not luxuries; they are the foundation of every household and every business,” the Davao Consumer Movement said.
The group added that stable energy prices and a more resilient power sector would help ease the cost of living, strengthen the economy, and improve the lives of millions of Mindanawons and Filipinos.
