A Davao City official has raised concerns over the increase in electricity rates implemented by the Davao Light and Power Company (Davao Light).

During a City Council session, Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang said based on his computation, the electricity rates went up by P3.38 since December 2025, which is equivalent to 33.8 percent overall increase.

Recently, the rate went up to P13.09 per kilowatt-hour for the billing period covering July 11 to August 10.

Dayanghirang, who chairs the Committee on Finance, Ways and Means, and Appropriations, also said that the allocated electricity funds for city government buildings and streetlights have continued to increase.

From 2024 to 2026, electricity budget appropriations have already exceeded a billion pesos.

“If we allow this to go on Mr. President the Davao will be hit just imagine magkano binabayaran natin and that will go up. I am appealing to Davao Light to help Davao City, what are their recommendations?” Dayanghirang told the city council.

Davao Light said earlier that electricity prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) have increased due to the current power situation being experienced not only in Davao City but across the country.

Generation facilities were also reportedly affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake on June 8, 2026.

“Ang market prices gyud nisaka. This is because daghag mga power plants na na out kulang ang supply but nigamay ang suplay versus sa demand. But we have to understand that these are generation charges passed on charges to the consumers dili mo-gain si Davao Light ani kay we gain only from the distribution charge which is fixed wala na nisaka,” Davao Light President, Engr. Enriczar Tia, said.

During the session, Davao Light was also asked whether there are still measures that could be taken to reduce electricity rates.

Davao Light said the rates have already been lowered.

“Actually napaubsan na na pwede namo to siya kolektahon but one-time pero dako kaayo ang increase moabot siya’g more than 14 per kilowatt-hour to manage that amo siyang gi-spread over 5 months,” Tia added.

One of the solutions being considered to address the power situation is the addition of more power plants.

At present, Therma South Incorporated is reportedly planning to expand its power plant, which is expected to add 300 megawatts to the power supply.

“Ang long-term gyud nga solution ani not only in Mindanao but also in Visayas and Luzon is to build more power plant para not only stable ang power supply kay di baya nato control ang mga power plants nga mo-out siya kailangan in a year for example kinahanglan nimo siya i-maintain one to two months naa gyud mga power plants nga mawala with new power plants coming in stable atong power enough pa gyud atong supply kung taas ang supply sa demand mubo ang presyo,” Tia said.

However, Councilor Louie Bonguyan, chairman of the Committee on Water and Electricity, called for investments in renewable energy.

“I call on the ERC, NGPC and Davao Light to be transparent, stabilize the source of power supply and invest in renewable energy our people deserve affordable, reliable electricity in this country,” Bonguyan said.