Island Garden City of Samal, Davao de Norte Mayor Al David Uy. (PNA file photo)
DAVAO CITY – Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) Mayor Al David Uy will propose again for the expansion of the services of the Davao Light and Power Co. (DLPC) in the area and the rest of Davao del Norte province, in place of the North Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco).
“This is the third time already that we have pushed to replace Nordeco,” Uy said Thursday, noting that IGACOS has been filing the proposal to replace Nordeco with the services of DLPC since 2007.
Uy's statement came after House of Representatives Bill 10554, which would have expanded the franchise coverage of the DLPC to other parts of Davao del Norte serviced by Nordeco, was vetoed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The President explained that the bill could not be approved as it violates a provision in Section 10, Article III of the 1987 Constitution, which protected Nordeco's franchise in the province.
The franchise has yet to expire in 2028 and 2033, respectively, for different locations in the province.
“Many were disappointed but we will keep on trying,” Uy said.
He had been vocal about his disappointment with Nordeco's alleged inaction over the island's rotational brownouts.
Uy cited Nordeco's delayed construction of the submarine cable and substation projects, which were seen to improve the power situation on the island.
Currently, the franchise for the Aboitiz-owned DLPC only covers Davao City, and Panabo City, Carmen, Dujali, and Sto. Tomas in Davao del Norte.
The vetoed bill would have expanded it to include Tagum City, IGACOS, Asuncion, Kapalong, New Corella, San Isidro, and Talaingod in Davao del Norte and Maco in Davao de Oro. (PNA)
