Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib. (PNA file photo by Che Palicte)
DAVAO CITY – After seven years of dispute, the two factions at the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (Daneco) have put an end to their bickering, Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib said on Friday.
The competing factions--each side controlled by the National Electrification Association (NEA) and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA)--have reconciled during a ceremony in Tagum City on Thursday, Jubahib said, describing the resolution as a victory for consumers.
“This is a big triumph of the consumers of Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley provinces,” the governor said.
The conflict, which sometimes led to violence, started in 2012 when the Daneco management split into two, with each group insisting over the electric form's operations, including the collection of monthly dues.
This resulted in confusion among consumers and caused huge damage to the cooperative.
Jubahib underscored the end of the conflict, pointing out that “access to efficient and reliable energy is at the heart of development."
Under Thursday's resolution, both parties agreed to merge under the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco) Inc. to emphasize the two provinces covered in the cooperative's franchise.
Jubahib hopes that the more than 200,000 electric consumers will ratify the renaming and reorganization of the cooperative during the general assembly on November 30.
He also acknowledged the key role of former Compostela Valley Province Gov. Arturo Uy and his son, incumbent Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy of the soon-to-be known Davao de Oro province, in getting the opposing groups to the bargaining table.
Both Jubahib and Uy vowed to provide employment to the employees of the Daneco-CDA, who will be displaced by the reorganization. (PNA)
