Thousands of residents of the Island Garden City of Samal trooped to the office of the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative Inc. (NORDECO) on Wednesday afternoon, March 1, to protest the alleged poor power services to the consumers.

This, according to Island Garden City of Samal Vice Mayor Lemuel Reyes, is despite what he described as a high rate being charged to the consumers as compared with those being charged by nearby power firms. 

Reyes, who was among those who joined the protest action, said the electricity rate being charged to them is P19 per kilowatt hour as compared to other areas where residents are only charged P12 per kilowatt hour.

What further triggered the local residents to protest, according to Reyes, was the frequent brownout being experienced in their area.

He said around 3,000 residents from almost all barangays joined the protest action.

“This is really a big problem here in Samal, the electricity. Almost everyday, we are experiencing power outages,” said Reyes. 

As a result, he said the electricity problem has already affected the local business and tourism.

“There are a lot of tourists who want to come in. We understand that they would first check the status of electricity and when they do that, the planned visit would not push through,” said Reyes.

He said this has long been the problem in Samal Island, adding that it started in 2016 but remains unresolved.

On the part of the local government unit, Reyes said they have already taken some steps to resolve the issue, including a resolution that was submitted to the Congress.

The LGU action, according to Reyes, includes support to the bill filed by Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Partylist Rep. Margarita Ignacia Nograles to put some areas in Samal Island under another power company.