DAVAO CITY – Amid soaring electricity rates, Davao City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang has proposed cutting unnecessary power taxes and adopting solar energy in government facilities to reduce costs.

Dayanghirang, chairman of the Committees on Finance, Ways and Means, Appropriations, and on Games and Amusement, renewed his call during the Pulong-Pulong sa Dabawenyos on Aug. 25.

Public concern over rising electricity bills prompted the councilor to push for measures that would lower rates and protect consumers in Davao and Mindanao.

“We have raised the matter with national government officials, and they are already looking into it,” Dayanghirang said, adding that power problems require national-level action.

He stressed that electricity is vital to development, noting that areas with tourism potential may struggle to attract businesses when supply is unreliable.

Dayanghirang pointed out that many businesses forced to rely on generators during outages face higher operating costs, discouraging investment.

To ease the burden on consumers, he proposed reviewing electricity taxes and removing unnecessary charges.

He also urged a review of system and transmission losses, saying consumers should not shoulder the cost of electricity lost before reaching them.

Dayanghirang further suggested reviving a fuel price-stabilization mechanism similar to the former Oil Price Stabilization Fund (OPSF), which cushioned consumers from sudden petroleum price hikes.

Earlier, he filed a resolution urging Congress to restore the OPSF or create a similar mechanism to protect public transport, agriculture, and the economy from volatile fuel prices.

The measure cited global oil price shifts and foreign exchange fluctuations that have driven unpredictable fuel costs, adding pressure on families, workers, and businesses.

Dayanghirang said fuel is essential to nearly every sector -- transportation, electricity, food production, manufacturing, and logistics -- and rising prices increase the cost of basic goods, fueling inflation and eroding purchasing power.

He argued that a properly funded and managed stabilization mechanism could help soften the impact of global fuel spikes.

The councilor also urged the city to study solar power use in government facilities and street lighting to cut long-term electricity expenses.

According to him, the Davao City Government is a major electricity consumer, with costs covering government buildings and street lighting.

He noted that the city is among Davao Light and Power Company’s largest customers, making it vulnerable to rate increases.

Dayanghirang clarified that while many streetlights already use LED technology, LED lighting differs from solar-powered systems.

“LED refers to how light is produced, while solar refers to how electricity is generated,” he explained. “We should study a pilot project where selected streets or facilities use true solar systems with panels, batteries, and inverters.”

Councilor Ralph Abella, chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Aquaculture, Food, and Animals, backed the proposal, citing his own experience with solar systems lowering electricity costs.

Dayanghirang acknowledged that solar power requires significant upfront investment but said it could yield substantial long-term savings.

He added that the city government could gradually adopt the technology in practical areas.