Davao Light reports over 2,600 poles relocated since 2017

THE Davao Light and Power Company (Davao Light) reported that they have relocated around 2,667 poles since 2017, as the Department of Public Works and Highways-Davao Region (DPWH-Davao) requested.

Allan Villaver, Davao Light project supervisor, said in his report to the 20th Council on Tuesday, April 17, 2024 at the Sangguniang Panlungsod, that around 5,786 poles were affected. Of that number, 2,667 are already done, 371 are ongoing, 1,506 are yet to be started, and 943 are not applicable for relocation.

However, Davao City First District Councilor Nilo “Small” Abellera, Jr. expressed that there is a discrepancy between Davao Light and DPWH-Davao’s data. He said that DPWH-Davao claimed that Davao Light, since 2017, has only relocated 90 poles.

“Since 2017, 90 poles ang inyung na lipat out of 1,083 kung baga meron pang 993 base sa kanilang data na hindi niyo pa nalilipat (Since 2017, you have only relocated around 90 out of the 1,083 based on their data [DPWH-Davao] there are still 993 remaining poles that have yet to be transferred),” he said.

Villaver replied that their data includes the overall requests from the barangay, city, DPWH district, and DPWH regional office. He said that the data from DPWH-Davao only included the request from the regional office.

Delay in the relocation of poles

Villaver said that the delay in pole relocation is caused by several factors such as the road right of way (RROW) and turning off electrical connection.

“May mga scheduled interruption kami, bawal kasi kaming magpatay ng ilaw natin, diba magagalit ang Dabawenyos kung every week magpapatay tayo. Ang ano kasi namin pag interruption namin dapat naka-scheduled (There are scheduled interruptions because we are not allowed to turn off electrical connection because Dabawenyos would be mad if we will have interruptions every week. In the company the interruption should be scheduled),” he said.

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