THE DAVAO Light and Power Co., Inc. (Davao Light) assured stability and continuity as it officially took over the power line operation in the Island Garden City of Samal starting on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
In his statement in a press briefing on Wednesday, Feb 25, 2026, Davao Light President and COO Enriczar Tia confirmed it has been granted a provisional Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to operate in the area.
The company has already established a 24/7 dedicated hotline (0919 057 3572) and a Customer Service Center at the IGaCoS Commercial Center to assist residents during the transition.
Davao Light president and COO Enriczar Tia clarified that while Nordeco had claimed “co-existing” or parallel operations, the court-mandated turnover establishes Davao Light’s lawful authority to possess and operate the infrastructure.
The company stated it remains open to “constructive dialogue” with Nordeco to ensure an orderly transition and a stable, dependable electric service for the community.
The transition was finalized after the Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court – Panabo Branch 4 lawfully turned over the assets—formerly operated by the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco)—to Davao Light. The move follows a January 23, 2026, trial court ruling and the Supreme Court’s recent dismissal of Nordeco’s legal challenges.
A hard-won victory
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib hailed the takeover as a victory for consumers who have long suffered from high rates and frequent outages.
“This is the justice we have fought for,” Jubahib stated. “Business owners and residents have long endured unstable services and high charges that could not meet the island’s demands. Our petitions to Congress and the Senate led to Republic Act 12144, and now that the Supreme Court has dismissed the TRO, Davao Light’s entry is official and legal.”
‘Buy your appliances now’
Mayor Lemuel Reyes echoed the sentiment, noting that the poor power quality had previously deterred investors and caused frequent damage to household electronics.
“This is what the people of Samal have been waiting for. For so long, people were afraid to buy appliances because they would just get damaged,” Reyes said. “To my brothers in Samal: now is the time to buy those appliances. To investors: come to Samal now, because we finally have good service.”
