A major transition in the power distribution landscape of Tagum City and parts of Davao del Norte officially began after Sheriff IV Leobert Ticar of RTC Tagum Branch 2 served the Supplemental Writ of Possession on Monday, May 25, 2026, authorizing the takeover of operations by Davao Light and Power Company (Davao Light).
The implementation of the writ was witnessed by Tagum City Mayor Rey T. Uy, Davao Light President and COO Enriczar Tia, and members of the Davao Light Board.
Beginning May 26, 2026, Davao Light officially assumes the operation, maintenance, billing, collection, emergency response, and customer service functions previously handled by the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco) in Tagum City. Tagum City officials and Davao Light management emphasized that all electricity bills covering power consumption from May 26, 2026, onward must be paid to Davao Light.
Davao Light confirmed that starting May 26, it took over billing and collection operations in Tagum City and nearby areas covered by the transition. Tia announced, "Starting now, Davao Light's full services will begin — from operations, maintenance, supervision, emergency response, to customer service, everything." He added, "Starting May 26, Davao Light has the authority over billing and collection."
The court action follows Republic Act No. 12144, which expands Davao Light's franchise area into parts of Davao del Norte, including Tagum City. Mayor Uy described the transition as a victory for consumers and local development. "Give the business to the business sector. This is not something the government can effectively handle," he said. "You have seen Nordeco's kind of service. It is expensive. Naturally, the people will choose the cheaper option."
The mayor emphasized that Tagum City stands to benefit financially and operationally under Davao Light's management. "This will mean additional income for the city. The franchise fee will not be added to consumers' electricity bills. Electricity rates will become cheaper," he stressed. Uy also criticized Nordeco's long-standing system requiring consumers and businesses to provide and maintain their own transformers. "With Davao Light, from the electric post, transformer, up to the meter, everything is theirs to provide and maintain. Under Nordeco, all of that becomes the consumer's responsibility," he explained.
The mayor welcomed Davao Light's commitment to improving street lighting, reducing outages, and establishing backup lines to restore electricity within minutes during interruptions. "Welcome, Davao Light to Tagum City," Uy declared. "To tell you, consumers, I will be among those who will monitor the promises they made to us."
Tia acknowledged that rehabilitation efforts would take time due to aging infrastructure inherited from the previous system. "We have seen many deficiencies. Some areas are already overloaded and need upgrading, while several substations are already outdated," he said.
Residents expressed optimism over the transition and expected improvement in power services. One resident shared, "We are happy because finally, Tagum now has reliable electricity, and hopefully, the electricity services we will receive from Davao Light will become even better."
Meanwhile, Tagum City has formally requested Nordeco to refund approximately ₱18 million in power bill deposits. "This is our money," Uy stressed. "And this should be returned."
Davao Light-Davao del Norte Head Manager Arnel Bersabe clarified that issues involving Nordeco's compensation and liabilities remain subject to court-supervised legal proceedings. "That's part of the just compensation process. The court also required a list of all entities to whom Nordeco has obligations. It is part of the legal process," he explained.
The transition marks one of the most significant developments in the province's utility sector in recent years, with city officials framing the move as part of Tagum's push toward becoming a more business-friendly and infrastructure-ready urban center. Uy also floated the possibility of future underground cabling projects similar to those in Davao City. "Perhaps in the future, the city can also share in the cost of underground cabling projects," he said.
Nordeco released an official statement confirming receipt of notices from the Supreme Court regarding the consolidation of cases questioning the constitutionality of R.A. No. 12144 and petitions seeking injunctions against the writs of possession. "Nordeco will still and continue to operate pending the resolutions it filed before the SC," the electric cooperative stated, adding that its franchise "is still valid up to October 2028." Despite the legal challenge, the RTC-issued Supplemental Writ of Possession was enforced in Tagum on May 25.
