BY IVY TEJANO
DAVAO CITY – The Northern Davao Electric Cooperative Inc. (Nordeco) vowed to complete the P1.5-million interconnection project between Samal and Pantukan this year.
Nordeco issued the pledge before a joint committee hearing with the Senate Committees on Energy, Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship on July 12, Wednesday.
The electric cooperative said they deemed it proper to address the issues and concerns raised by the concerned member-consumer-owners and the local government units.
“We wish to enlighten our dear member-consumer-owners over the issues and concerns raised against Nordeco during the Senate Committee Hearing on July 12,” Nordeco said.
It added that the cooperative seeks to guide the entities, such as the Senate Committee on Energy, provincial government of Davao del Norte, city government of Igacos, and the local government units in the franchises of Nordeco.
Nordeco belied the “false, baseless accusations” of a certain Ryan Amper. It said that Amper is not connected with the electric cooperative.
“The self-proclaimed convenor of the Davao Consumer Movement (DCM) put into serious doubt the very existence of this consumer movement, its motive, and cause,” Nordeco added.
Nordeco said it hopes that the level of discourse on issues affecting them be confined to relevant laws and facts and not merely rely on unverified facts and assertions.
The electric cooperative was invited earlier to appear before the Senate Committee on Energy in response to Senate Resolution No. 629.
The resolution seeks an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the calamity status on Samal Island due to the power crisis. The objective is to explore short-term and long-term remedies to address the electricity supply deficiency on the island.
Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go appealed to the Nordeco to solve the power disruption in its service areas.
To address these concerns, Nordeco is now constructing a 15-kilometer submarine cable, estimated to cost around P1.5 billion, that will connect Igacos and Pantukan town with the mainland.
Nordeco officials believe that this initiative will effectively resolve the persistent power problems Samal Island faces.
