Fourteen-year-old Mitch Balbuena dreams of becoming a teacher but it was always an extreme challenge to focus on her studies due to intermittent power at their home, which relies solar panels and, at nighttime, gas lamps. Bebina Lucena, meanwhile, ran her vegetable stall without electricity and refrigeration, which meant she had to make frequent three-hour trips to buy blocks of ice elsewhere.
Today, however, Mitch and Bebina—and their fellow students and business owners in Barangay Malabog, Davao City—are able to progress as accessible electric power has finally reached their homes and establishments.
While solar panels did find their way to Barangay Malabog in 2019, the technology was limited in supporting a continuous supply of electricity, weakening or even disappearing whenever it rained, was cloudy, or when it was already dark.
Greater electrification of the area was challenged by the peace and order situation, which was finally addressed in 2022 when the entire Davao Region was declared “insurgency-free.” That same year, owing to the improved situation, Davao Light embarked on its sitio electrification program in Barangay Malabog, installing power lines and the other necessary infrastructure. Since then, 70 out of the 82 sitios in Barangay Malabog have been energized.
“Pagdating ng kuryente dito, yung mga liblib na purok at sitio may mga tindahan na, may mga resort na, so malaking factor talaga yung kuryente kase yun ang kailangan ng tao,” said Malabog Barangay Captain Jessielito Areja.
(When electricity arrived, the remote areas suddenly had stores, there were resorts, so electricity is really a huge factor because that’s what people need.)
With the objective of economic development and poverty reduction, the sitio electrification program is a project by the national government of the Philippines that aims to connect far-flung barangays and underserved rural areas to the electrical grid of distribution utilities such as Davao Light.
“The electrification program is one of the key priorities of the Department of Energy (DoE), not only in Mindanao but in the entire country,” explained DoE Mindanao Field Director Nilo J. Geroche, adding that the government targets full electrification of households by 2028.
But electrification, particularly at the household level, is a moving target, as pointed out by Davao Light President and Chief Operating Officer Enriczar T. Tia, considering how new residents move into the sitios every year.
“Right now, among the 182 barangays within the Davao Light franchise area, we’re proud to say that we are 100% electrified,” he said. Company data shows that 66 sitios remain unenergized, which is 1.73% of all sitios in its service area. “At the household level, there are around 503,000 households where 2,000 are yet to be energized.”
Since their barangay’s electrification, Bebina now has a refrigerator for vegetable storage, which brings her savings that she reinvests in her stall. She has expanded her inventory, which now includes cold drinks and even a “pisonet” Wi-Fi terminal.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa Davao Light kase umunlad yung pamumuhay namin,” Bebina said, noting how her revitalized store helps in funding her children’s education. (I thank Davao Light because our lives have improved.)
At the same time, with the hope and modernity brought about by electricity, Mitch can now dream of a much better life for herself and her family. She shared that she wants to progress so their house can be renovated.
“Gusto ko maging successful para kaya ko nang suportahan ang sarili ko… Hindi na ko aasa sa iba,” she said. (I want to be successful so I can support myself… I won’t have to rely on anyone else.)
Despite the remaining challenges in reaching far-flung and underserved households, including those in Barangay Malabog, is undeterred.
“In Davao Light, it is our massive transformative purpose to empower the evolution of our cities, and we believe that the sitio electrification program is part of that mandate,” Tia said.
Underground cabling in Davao City
Alongside the sitio electrification program, Davao Light is working on underground cabling, or the transfer of overhead power lines to below ground level, in the city proper.
Underground cabling not only enhances the city’s skyline, but also makes the streets safer for motorists, commuters, and pedestrians, making it appealing to residents, tourists, and investors. Power pilferage, or electricity theft, is also prevented.
To the power distribution network, it also enhances its resilience and reliability, with lesser incidence of emergency power interruptions, as well as the mitigation of fire hazards, accidents, and safety risks, even amidst extreme weather conditions.
“Other than the aesthetic aspect, the benefit of underground cabling is that it’s safer and provides for less interruption in power distribution since the power lines are protected and aren’t exposed,” said Davao Light Head of Reputation Enhancement Department Fermin Edillon.
“But it’s not that easy to implement because we are given a work permit only during the night—like 9pm up to 5am—and then you have to close the area during the day so that commuters can pass through,” Tia added, while also noting how the project is quite costly, making them focus their efforts on mandated areas.
The underground cabling project was mandated under Davao City Ordinance No. 0152-17, Series of 2017, “requiring all telecommunication companies, Davao Light and Power Company and all other persons to comply with the underground cabling plan of the City of Davao.”
The first phase covered C.M. Recto street from corner San Pedro street to corner Ramon Magsaysay Avenue, while the second phase comprised 0.6 kilometers of San Pedro street from City Hall Drive up to corner Quirino Avenue. The former began construction in 2018 and was finished in 2021, while the latter started in March 2021 and was completed in February 2023.
As of March 2025, the first part of phase three in Ramon Magsaysay Avenue, covering the Philippine Post Office up to the corner of Suazo street, was deemed complete. The second part of phase three has already commenced.
Davao Light is the Philippines’ third-largest electric distribution utility, currently serving the cities of Davao and Panabo, plus the municipalities of Carmen, Dujali, and Sto. Tomas.
