The Davao Oriental Electric Cooperative should do best to comply with an ultimatum issued by the province of Davao Oriental or give way to a new power utility firm to manage the province’s electric distribution system.
“Consumers have suffered for so long,” said Gov. Generoso Mayor Juanito Inojales, newly-installed external vice-president of the League of Municipal Mayors of Davao Oriental.
He said the frequent brown-outs have dampened business confidence and are to blame for missed business opportunities in his municipality, a known tourist destination.
In a power supply consultation on August 25,2025, Gov. Nelson Dayanghirang directed DORECO to resolve once and for all the cause of frequent brown-outs or face the possibility of being eased out by a new player by 2026.
The ultimatum was issued in the presence of provincial and government officials as well as officials of the League of Municipal Mayors of Davao Oriental headed by San Isidro Mayor Maria Angelica Go-Dayanghirang.
Baganga mayor Laureano Taya said DORECO has caused “wounded feelings to every consumer” as well as “besmirched reputation” to business establishments and local government units as a result of DORECO’s disservice.
“DORECO has failed immensely to provide adequate lighting and when that happens, life also suffers,” he said, adding that in Baganga, brown-outs occur once or twice daily.
He dismissed DORECO’s reasoning that landowners are to blame for preventing line improvements. “It shows the utility firm is not friendly to the communities it is supposed to serve,” he said.
In truth, he said, DORECO has proven incapable and incompetent in managing power distribution in the 10 municipalities of Davao Oriental.
“We will welcome the kind of service that Davao Light provides the city of Davao and nearby areas,” he said.
The other officers of the League of Municipal Mayors include: Art Benjie C. Bulaong (vice-president for internal affairs), Lemuel Jan M. Larcia (secretary), Jon Marco Dayanghirang (auditor), Santos Q. Alonzo (PRO), Ronnie Osnan and Santos Alonzo (Board of Directors) and Laureano B. Taya as nomination and election committee chair. (Jimmy K. Laking)
