In a determined effort to tackle the persistent power supply challenges in the Davao Region, senatorial candidates from the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas coalition have committed to legislative action if they secure victory in the upcoming May 12 mid-term elections. During a campaign rally in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, the candidates outlined their plans to enhance the region’s economic growth through stable electricity.
Senator Francis Tolentino, seeking re-election, highlighted the potential impact of Senate Bill 2888, which aims to expand the service area of Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. (DLPC). He expressed hope that this expansion would not only benefit export producers but also improve household access to electricity. Tolentino also mentioned plans to further support agriculture and boost the region’s economic competitiveness.
Tolentino is optimistic about President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s support for the bill. Meanwhile, ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, who is also running for the Senate, has been advocating for a thorough review of electric cooperatives’ franchises. He believes that underperforming cooperatives should be replaced by more efficient power companies to alleviate consumer suffering due to power issues.
Tulfo also proposed enhancing economic development in Davao by improving connectivity across Mindanao through the construction of more roads and expressways. Makati City Mayor Abby Binay, another candidate on the administration’s Senate slate, emphasized that addressing power problems should be a top priority for the government to foster economic progress in the region. She suggested that renewable energy could play a crucial role in solving these issues.
The Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas coalition’s Senate candidates also include reelectionists Senators Lito Lapid, Bong Revilla, Pia Cayetano, and Imee Marcos, along with Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, former senators Manny Pacquiao, Panfilo Lacson, and Vicente Sotto III, and former Interior secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.