By Rio N. Araja
Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list Rep. Margarita Nograles on Sunday raised the urgency for the swift approval of proposals to expand the franchise area of Davao Light and Power Co. (DLPC) to include eight areas in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro ultimately resolve these areas’ electricity woes. Nograles said she was confident that the expansion of DLPC’s franchise area would receive the endorsement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. even in light of a prior veto on a similar measure as this would allegedly overlap and infringe on the existing franchise of the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative.
She stressed that the new measure has clearly laid down the overarching need to uphold the common good and protect the best interest of the people by ensuring improved energy access for more communities and fostering economic growth.
According to her, the urgency to approve DLPC’s bid to cover at least eight areas in the northernDavao region as she pointed out thatNORDECO has been non-compliantwith the terms of their franchise asmandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act resulting in highelectricity cost and constant power interruption that is making life very difficult to many of their clients.
The eight areas included Tagum City, the Island Garden City of Samal, and the municipalities of Asuncion Kapalong, New Corella, San Isidro, and Talaingod in Davao delNorte, as well as the town of Macoin Davao de Oro.
Nograles said the proposed expansion of the DLPC franchise area should not be regarded as an impairment of NORDECO’s franchise which mandates the allowance of existing franchises to run their full term. Nograles pointed out that the Constitution has provided Congress the power to grant, amend or alter existing franchises in order to protect public interest and promote common good.
Nograles, a lawyer, said while the Constitution ensures that laws passed should not impair the obligation of contracts, it also outlines the conditions for granting public utility franchises and authorizations.