Still no room for optimism in Samal Island
Charlie V. Manalo
RELIABLE, affordable and accessible power is one of the key pillars of inclusive economic development. Without it, communities and businesses face disruptions to their daily lives — making it impossible to achieve high standards of living (for families) and to maximize earnings (for businesses).
This is a challenge that many provinces in the Philippines face. An example of this is Samal Island, a tourist destination in the Davao Region known for its pristine beaches, natural resources and wildlife.
Unfortunately, it is common knowledge among Samal residents that their daily lives are marked by frequent power outages and high electricity bills. This situation was exacerbated when the submarine cable connecting the island to mainland Davao was severed in December 2022 — and never to be repaired again.
Bizarrely, Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, which provides electricity to the area, is using diesel-powered modular generator sets as a stopgap measure to provide electricity to the communities it serves. It is unlikely to have long-term benefits, given unintended consequences such as further driving up electricity bills for consumers. This is because diesel is one of the most expensive types of energy available in the market.
Nordeco promises that the repair of the submarine cable will be completed within this month. However, there is not much room for optimism about the electric cooperative.
For example, one should not forget that in May last year, a state of emergency was declared on the island over power outages that plagued the area.
The cooperative was the subject of Senate scrutiny at that time, with the then Energy Committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian warning Nordeco to improve its service or face the threat of its franchise being terminated. The year before that, in 2022, Nordeco nearly faced its end when Congress passed a bill to terminate its franchise, but it was saved by a veto from President Marcos Jr.
Fast forward to 2024, things remained the same — to the detriment of consumers. With the way Nordeco is handling the crisis related to its damaged submarine cable, there is a risk that things could take a further turn for the worse.
While one can finally hope for an end to Samal Island's woes, it is hard to envision a future of prosperity for the island with the way Nordeco is handling the area's power distribution. As such, it is now time for Congress and energy regulators to do their part to provide solutions. Until then, there is still no room for optimism in Samal Island.
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Another feather in the cap.
After securing international ranks from Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and the World Universities with Real Impact (WURI), the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) finally landed in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Ranking.
THE is one of the world's trusted performance ratings entities, focusing on research
PUP was assessed based on its SDG-related endeavors, providing the university with a much-needed basis for a global education outlook.
And just recently, three PUPians landed in the Top 10 examinees in the licensure examination for certified accountants by the Board of Certified Accountants.
Hazel Ann Concepcion Sera topped the examination with a rating of 90.83; Daniel Cartil Terencio placed fourth with a rating of 90.17; and John Paul Morales Fadrilan bagged sixth place with a score of 89.83.
Congratulations PUPians and the present administration led by Dr. Manuel Muhi.