davao light

ISLAND GARDEN CITY OF SAMAL — Thirty-year-old butcher Jerome Magalos carefully stuffed bags of spoiled meat products into a sack, ready to be loaded onto the truck. Inside their shop, the chillers are still, and the whirring chargeable table fan at the cashier’s desk is the only sound breaking the midday silence.  

It’s a real scenario that happened just two months ago following a lingering power outage that wasn’t announced beforehand.

“Kung nagsulti sila unsa kadugay ang brownout, nakapangandam unta mi (We could have prepared if they told us the brownout would last for hours),” he said, recounting that they lost nine bags of meat products at P2,000 each.

Unfortunately, unannounced power interruptions are a common occurrence in this sleepy island of around 120,000 people. The situation has become untenable for the city’s food sector, which relies on stable electricity to provide service to their customers.

“Ginakuha Lang man sa tagiya ang mga madaot na karne ug sila na mo-dispose. Pero lugi jud Kay dili naman mabaligya (The store owner just disposes of the spoiled meat. But we really incurred losses since they could no longer be sold),” he added. 

The poultry products are particularly vulnerable because they shouldn’t be left at room temperature for two hours, or even less if the day is particularly warm. “Ug wala mapalitan ice Kay walay kuryente (And we can’t buy ice anywhere because there’s no electricity,” he said.

Kim Aranes, the meat shop’s cashier, recalls experiencing power outages as many as five times a day. Although these brownouts are relatively brief (between 15 and 30 minutes), they are extremely destructive to the appliances.     

“I think five of our chillers have already sustained damage. Some were repaired, and some were replaced,” she said.

She estimates their meat chillers to be between P5,000 and P7,000 each. While the purchase price seems reasonable, the constant repair and replacement costs eat into their profits. 

“Wala jud mi mabuhat. Unta magsulti sila kanusa brownout para mapalong namo amo appliances ug masalbar ang karne (We are helpless. I wish they would tell us when the brownout would be so we can turn off our appliances and save our meat products),” she added.

Wishing upon a dream

Leo Dagpin, 48, restaurant helper, a migrant from Sarangani who settled here after marrying her husband, a resident of Samal Island.

“Wala mi kuryente sa balay Kay dili mi ka-afford. Nag andam ko P5,000 pero dili makaya Kay giingnan ko P15,000 pataod (We have no electricity at home because we couldn’t afford it. I saved up P5,000, but I learned I needed P15,000),” she said.

Aggravating her problem is her asthma, which flares up, particularly during extra humid nights. So, during those moments, she hobbles toward the makeshift hammock outside to rest for a bit. She can’t count the number of times, her inhaler in hand, she is roused by the roosters’ crows to signal the sun’s arrival.

The only consolation she has is that she didn’t pass her asthma down to her three children. So, that was one less thing to worry about.

Like most Samal residents, she is aware of the ongoing legal squabble between the electric cooperative and Davao Light and Power Co. And like the majority of the population, she’s already taking sides.   

“Pangarap nako magka kuryente na akoa jud kaugalingon. Ang P5,000 wala pa nako nagastos ug dili nako gastoson bahala unsa mi kalisod (It’s my dream for our house to have its own electricity. The P5,000 I saved is still with me and I won’t touch it no matter how financially difficult life is)” she said.

“Sana, mag-anhi na jud ang Davao Light. Basi diay sa ilaha na nako makuha ako pangandoy (Hopefully, Davao Light will finally come here. Maybe, they are the answer to my dreams)” she added.

Crippling uncertainty

Novelyn Montajes, 24, a pizza cashier, narrated that the persistent power interruptions have already impacted their business. For instance, their overhead sustained a hit from damaged appliances, fewer customers, and limited products they could sell.

“Tungod sa sige brownout na walay notice, dili maiwasan na madaot jud mga appliances. Bago lang mi nagpalit ug chiller (Fujidenzo Upright Chiller, priced at around P24,000) kay dili na jud mudagan ang dati (Due to frequent brownouts without prior notice, the appliances will naturally break down. We just bought a new chiller because the old one won’t run anymore),” she recounted.

The power outages cut into their profits since the pizza place’s peak hours are typically between 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

She said customers are also forced to walk away because the AC is not working under the sweltering summer heat. In some instances, they can’t serve their signature milkshakes and cold drinks, particularly when the power interruption extends for hours. 

However, Montajes does acknowledge that the power situation has improved in recent months as the brownouts only last about 15-30 minutes. Her only wish is that the electric cooperative issues a prior notice, so their appliances won’t sustain any more damage.

But the seemingly shortened power interruption is deceiving since the pizza place Montajes works in is located in the city’s business district. Her village in Barangay Tagpopongan, about 21 kilometers from the Samal ferry in Barangay Babak, wasn’t so lucky.

“Kahinumdom ko na tag isa ka adlaw jud amo brownout sa Tagpopongan, tapos wala pa jud mi kalabo kanusa mag brownout. Swerte kay daplin mi dagat mao dili kaayo igang sa gabii (I remember when we had day-long brownouts in Tagpopongan, and we were not sure when the electricity was cut off. It’s fortunate that we live in front of the ocean, so the sea breeze helps, especially at night,” she added.

Their barangay still suffers power interruptions, although she said it’s down to only an hour now instead of 24 hours. 

With luck, she said that Davao Light will finally take over Samal Island’s power service. “Mas maayo jud kung naa Davao Light kay among pag kabalo mas baba sila ug rates ug mas stable ang kuryente (It’s better if Davao Light is here because from what we’ve heard, they have more affordable rates and the power is more stable).”