THE MINDANAO Alliance for Progress (MAP) is calling on Davao Light and Power Company to provide a clear and understandable explanation for the P2.00 per kilowatt-hour electricity rate increase implemented in January 2026, saying the hike has an immediate impact on Davao City households.
“A P2.00 per kilowatt-hour increase is not a small adjustment for families in Davao City,” said Mayet Valdez, MAP coordinator. “For many households, especially in working-class communities, this means choosing between paying the full electric bill on time or falling behind on other basic needs.”
Valdez said that while Davao Light has cited factors such as the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, Green Energy Auction Allowance, and various ERC-related charges, these explanations remain unclear to most consumers in the city.
“These are technical terms that may make sense to regulators and energy experts, but they mean very little to a family in Buhangin, Toril, Calinan, or Talomo opening a higher electric bill at the end of the month,” she said. “What Davaoeños want — and deserve — is a plain explanation of why they are suddenly paying more.”
MAP urged the power utility to explain the increase in simple Filipino or English and to clearly break down the additional charges.
“Don’t hide behind jargon. Don’t expect ordinary Davao consumers to decode industry language just to understand their bill,” Valdez said. “Explain where the extra P2.00 per kWh is going — how much is due to power plant outages, how much comes from spot market prices, and how much is tied to green energy charges.”
Valdez also raised concerns over advisories urging residents to conserve electricity amid the rate hike.
“Telling people to ‘save electricity’ while raising rates feels disconnected from reality,” she said. “Many Davao City households are already conserving — limiting appliance use, turning off lights early — because they have no choice.”
According to MAP, transparency should not be treated as a mere regulatory requirement.
“Transparency is not just about ERC compliance. It is about respect for consumers,” Valdez said. “If this increase is necessary, then explain it clearly. Speak to Davaoeños as people, not as engineers or regulators.”
“At a time when every peso matters for families in our city, clarity and honesty are the least the public can expect,” she added.
