Kneeling and praying are the ultimate gestures to illustrate people’s hunger and thirst for a definite and immediate solution
As the country is now in full swing towards economic recovery, and, more importantly, growth, NORDECO is weakening the opportunity of the people of Davao del Norte to be in the same pace and capacity.
Praying while kneeling is the utmost gesture of surrender, a show of reverence and faith.
One humbles oneself and submits to the Almighty Power. Prayers uttered can be of thanks and praise—or at times, pleadings out of desperation.
When I saw Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib and Island Garden City of Samal Mayor Al David Uy, alongside other stakeholders convened by the United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC), all kneeling and respectively recited their prayers, I felt the desperation of the people of Davao del Norte.
Every prayer recited was a petition for better electric service and fair electric rates from the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (NORDECO).
I browsed through some news stories about NORDECO. According to reports, unstable electric supply and electricity rates are the culprits behind people’s burdens and woes. And the predicament has been going on for quite some time now.
For years, different sectors in Davao del Norte have been conducting different ways to express their dissatisfaction.
Appeals have been repeatedly aired to NORDECO, and even to high level officials.
Everyone’s clamor has been to seek immediate solution to the electric power problem that’s been pestering the province for many years.
I can only imagine the miserable living condition of residents who go through brownouts. Words aren’t even enough to describe the discomfort brought about by the scorching heat in a tropical country like ours, during the absence of electricity.
The same must be the case for students in classrooms. A powerless classroom, with the humidity and discomfort it brings about, renders students less able to concentrate and learn their lessons well.
I sympathize with business owners.
Buying a generator and fueling it to avoid business operation disruption are added operating expenses, hampering business stability and growth.
And the worst of it all is the endangerment of jobs for when business downsizing becomes a requisite in order to survive—to cope with operational expense inflation or adapt to business output work requirements.
Through these recent years, Northern Davao residents have been relentless in their complaints.
Even in social media, netizens rant on NORDECO’s services and its electricity rates. For this, I cannot blame them.
There’s reason to empathize with their plight of having to swallow the fact that they’re charged higher electricity rates compared to their neighboring provinces, but are served poorly in return—poorer in comparison to how neighboring provinces are being serviced.
As the whole country is now in full swing towards economic recovery, and, more importantly growth, NORDECO is weakening the opportunity of the people of Davao del Norte to be in the same pace and capacity.
No less than the father of the province, Governor Jubahib, is feeling this desperation.
For his beloved province, kneeling and praying are the ultimate gestures to illustrate people’s hunger and thirst for a definite and immediate solution.
UFCC president Rodolfo Javellana Jr. is right to say “Today, may our gathering and prayers be heard to once and for all alleviate people’s burden and that a better path for recovery be paved for the people of Davao del Norte.”
My impression on the “Panalangin ng mga Konsumerante” (Prayers of the Consumers) rally last week, convened by UFCC is this: NORDECO brought the people of the province down on their knees.
I’m one with them in their prayers for a true solution to their miseries.
(The author is a civil engineer and a longtime resident of the Davao area, with his own small construction business.)
