By Norma Pacheco Davao MDN Bureau
United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC) held its first interfaith prayer rally this morning at Barangay Miranda Gym, Island Garden City of Samal, urging Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NORDECO) to provide sufficient service and affordable electricity rates for Davao del Norte consumers.
UFCC, the lead convener of the “Panalangin ng mga Konsumerante” was joined by Davao del Norte Governor Edwin I. Jubahib, Island Garden City of Samal Mayor Al David T. Uy and several sectoral leaders, including business community, workers, students, housewives and other government officials, as a way to urge NORDECO to provide adequate electricity service for its failure to address the sentiments of its consumers on disruptive brownouts, expensive electricity rates, and inefficient services.
“Today, may our gathering and prayers be heard to once and for all alleviate people’s burden caused by NORDECO and that a better path for recovery be paved for the people of Davao del Norte,” UFCC President ‘Ka RJ’ Javellana, Jr. said.
Meanwhile, Governor Jubahib reiterates his desire and hope for a better service and affordable price of electricity in the entire province ‘Tuloy ang laban hanggang sa magkaroon ng tamang desisyon sa ating matagal ng ipinaglaban para sa koryente ng Davao del Norte. Mahal na Pangulo koryente namin sobrang problema na!
Tama na, sobra na ang sakripisyo ng taong bayan sa kooperatiba ng NORDECO!’ Gov. Jubahib said.
Jubahib also encouraged the consumer to support the ongoing ‘tie a white ribbon’ campaign in the province as a symbol of their desire for ‘let there be light!’
Samal Mayor Uy emphasized the need for sufficient power supply because it directly affects not just the economy and tourism industry of the island, but also the water supply.
Uy expressed dismay to the poor service of NORDECO which caused more than 1 million budget of the water district just for repair.
The consumer group also conferred the “Gawad Konsumerante” to recognized leaders in the province who were continuously relentless in representing the advocacies and rights of the consumers. Among those awarded were:
- Hon. Edwin L. Jubahib, Governor, Davao del Norte
- Hon. Al David T. Uy, Mayor, Island Garden City of Samal
- Engr. Sean Gellarangarin, President, Tagum City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.
- Engr. Aerol B. Conde, Past President, Tagum City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.
- Mr. Lorenzo Y. Rubinos, Sr., Founder and Chairman of LYR Group of Companies
- Datu Gomer Vallejera, Tribal Chieftain, Barangay Camudmud
- Frederick Lendon A. Monteclar, Barangay Captain, Barangay Miranda, Island Garden City of Samal
- Ustad Asraf Dailane, Jama’ah Leader, Island Garden City of Samal
Javellana Jr. reiterated that NORDECO’s response to the sentiments is “far from satisfactory.”
“Much has been done in the past years to make these sentiments and appeals known and acted upon, including a rally last year, but NORDECO’s responses are far from satisfactory, the foremost of which is the electricity rate, which is one of the highest in the region, in spite of neighboring electric cooperatives’ better services and efficiencies,” the group’s convener said.
The consumer group leader noted that Davao del Norte has been recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, and NORDECO’s inadequate service adds burden to the local government’s ability to bounce back.
The group added that households, students, and small businesses continue to suffer due to disruptive brownouts caused by NORDECO’s inefficiency.
“Students are forced to suffer unbearable heat in the classrooms and difficulty complying with schoolwork due to unpredictably frequent brownouts. This results in being handicapped in learning better,” Javellana stressed.
“Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are underperforming as a consequence of this electric supply instability, thereby, growth is stunted,” he added.
Last year, the local government unit of Samal Island joined the rally against NORDECO for its failure to meet the needs of its consumers, which affected its constituents, including the tourism sector.
